Food and Beverages - Making Healthy Food Accessible

Healthy Snacks at School - In Vending Machines

Vending machines can be used in a positive way to promote and support healthy eating in the school community. Offering a variety of healthy food and drink options in vending machines shows that a school is consistent in its healthy eating messaging.

Vending machines, however, are too often sources of beverages and snacks that are large in portion, low in nutrients and high in calories, sugar, salt and fat.

Vending Machine Standards
The Ministry of Education has developed standards for foods and beverages that are sold in vending machines.

Use Canada's Food Guide to help you decide what to offer in your school's vending machines. Aim to have at least 80% of available options in vending machines coming from the Food Guide.

Beverage Options
Snack Options

Beverage Options

• Water, 100% fruit and vegetable juice and milk are the most nutritious beverages.
• Yogurt drinks and flavoured milks (such as chocolate milk) are tasty and nutritious.
• Sweetened beverages like Fruitopia, Nestea, Snapple, Gatorade and Powerade, are not fruit juices and are low in nutrients.

Take portion size into consideration when looking at beverage options. For instance, a 500 mL bottle of orange juice is a nutritious choice but contains a lot of extra calories. A smaller serving would be a wiser choice.

Talk to your vending machine supplier/vendor to determine which options can help meet Ministry Guidelines and Canada's Food Guide.

If you have any questions, contact The Region of Peel-Public Health at 905-799-7700 and speak to a registered dietitian or public health nurse.

• Choose whole grain and enriched products like crackers, cereal, granola bars and cookies.
  • Limit fat to no more than five grams per serving
  • Provide a source of fibre (i.e., two grams or more per serving)
  • Provide reasonable portion sizes

    • Plain popcorn, pretzels, baked chips - 50 g
    • Muffins, snack breads -
      55 g
    • Cookies - 30 g
    • Crackers - 20 g

• Add vegetable and fruit options such as:
  • Canned fruit or 100% fruit sauces, like applesauce
  • Vegetables with dip
  • Dried fruit
    
    
• Add milk product options such as:
  • Yogurt
  • Cheese strings
  • Milk puddings
    
    
• Choose leaner meats, poultry and fish as well as dried peas, beans and lentils (e.g., tuna and crackers in a package, roasted soybeans, sunflower seeds, wrapped sandwiches on whole wheat)
  
  
• Unsalted nuts and seeds (check the school's policy on the availability of nuts/peanuts on school premises).

Talk to your vending machine supplier/vendor to determine which options would help meet the Ministry's Guidelines and Canada's Food Guide.

Also, if you have any questions contact the Region of Peel-Public Health at 905-799-7700 and speak to a registered dietitian or public health nurse.