Healthier options now available in school vending machines

By Erin Short 

Twas the day after fall break and all through the school, not a Pop Tart was for sale because of the new healthy food rule.

Many students are questioning how NAHS went from having Hot Cheetos in the vending machines to whole grain products so quickly, but administrators say the change has been planned for a while.

“It’s part of a healthy schools initiative,” Athletic Director Don Unruh said. “It’s a push by the school corporation to have healthier choices for our students instead of having things with higher sugar content and high calories.”

Most people aren’t lining up to buy whole grain Rice Krispy treats, but Mr. Unruh says this is a test to see how well these things sell with students.

“We’re doing a study now to see [how well healthy things sell], we won’t know until we get the results back,” Unruh said. “We started this over fall break and there are guidelines to what we put in the vending machines. The food isn’t that really that much different from what it used to be.”

“[Profits from vending machines] come through the athletic department and help us pay for uniforms and traveling,” Unruh said. “The athletic department is not financed through the school corporation like most think we are. The money also goes back out and helps fund some academic teams and senior incentive snack days.”

Although students no longer have our favorite snacks to buy anymore, the school is doing what they can to make us a healthier group of people.