Changing Teenage Eating Habits One Vending Machine at a Time

The Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County recently kicked off an educational effort in all ten Carroll County Public School (CCPS) high schools to raise student awareness about how to make better vending machine choices.  

Concerned about the rising rates of childhood obesity, the Parnership reported in a news release that it is working to educate students about choosing healthy snacks from the vending machine.

The vending machine snacks will be classified as Green, Yellow, or Red, similar to a stoplight. Green “Go” snacks are healthy; yellow “Slow” snacks are moderately healthy; and red “Stop and Think” snacks are the unhealthiest.  All rankings are based on the 2010 USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans. According to a news release, this method of rating food is endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and used across the United States as a reliable method for encouraging healthier food choices.

Through the Healthy Eating-Active Living grant from Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, and with the support of CCPS, The Partnership hopes that students will think about the nutritional value of their snack choices, and choose Green “Go” snacks versus unhealthy Red snacks.

During October and November, nutritional signs that rate the vending machine snack types (e.g., chips, pretzels, granola bars, candy) and prompt thoughtful snack choices will be posted in all CCPS High Schools. Magnets will be placed on all vending machines as point-of-purchase reminders to make wise choices. 

Advertisements are planned for the Town Mall in Westminster and in various shops around our community. High school morning announcements, the schools’ newsletters, and an electronic brochure emailed to all CCPS high school families will highlight this educational effort and bring awareness to the program and its goals.

According to its website, the Partnership for a Healthier Carroll County, Inc., an affiliate of Carroll Hospital Center and the Carroll County Health Department, is a private nonprofit organization working to improve health by connecting people, inspiring action, and strengthening community.