All posts by Elisabeth Wrede

Sugary Beverages in New York City Impact Health

Healthy Beverages in New York City

Is sugar one of the first few ingredients in your favorite beverage? Many beverages contain more sugar than most New York City individuals realize. For example, many fruit juices contain as much sugar as sugar-sweetened beverages. In fact, consuming higher numbers of servings of fruit juices is associated with an increase in death for older U.S. adults, according to a recent study published in JAMA Network Open.

The study found that for each additional 12-oz serving of sugar-sweetened beverage consumed there was an 11 percent higher risk of death. For fruit juice, each additional 12-oz serving consumed was connected to a 24 percent higher risk of death. The bottom line is that consuming more sugary beverages, including fruit juice, increases the risk of death.

Unfortunately, it’s not just fruit juices that contribute to the overall amount of sugar taken in. Beverages consumed often contribute 47 percent of added sugars to Americans’ diets; soft drinks represent 25 percent; fruit drinks 11 percent; coffee and tea seven percent; and sports or energy drinks three percent. 

And that is just the sugar in beverages. Sugar can be found everywhere as there are at least 61 different names for sugar including: high-fructose corn syrup, dehydrated cane juice, cane sugar, raw sugar, corn syrup, agave, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, brown sugar, fruit juice concentrates, invert sugar, malt sugar, molasses and sugar molecules ending in “ose” (dextrose, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose).

Healthy Beverages in New York City

With so many different names to keep track of, it’s no wonder that the average American consumes so much sugar. While too much of all types of sugar is unhealthy, it’s important to know the difference between naturally occurring sugar and added sugar. Naturally occurring sugar is in foods such as fruits and vegetables. Even though these foods contain naturally occurring sugar, they also contain water, fiber, vitamin and minerals. 

100 percent fruit juice, on the other hand, is missing the fiber that usually accompanies fresh fruit and slows down sugar absorption. For example, it takes the body longer to digest an apple because of the fiber content which then causes the natural sugar to be absorbed into the body more slowly. 

Current research suggests that 77 percent of Americans are trying to decrease the amount of sugar in their diets. Avoiding fruit juices and sugar-sweetened beverages is one way to accomplish that. New York City employers can help promote healthier choices and help their employees by offering better-for-you beverages in the break room.

The key is to offer a variety of options on the beverage menu from traditional plain or filtered water to naturally flavored sparkling water. With a larger selection of options, employees are less likely to become bored and choose a beverage with a lot of sugar. Offering healthy snacks is another way to encourage healthier eating habits.

Healthy Vending would like to help stock your New York City break room or school lunchroom with vending machines full of a variety of delicious, all-natural and healthy snacks and beverages. For more information, please call us at 917.572.3671. 

Finding Sustainable Snacks in New York City

Healthy Snacks in New York City

How much do New York City consumers really know about the snacks and beverages they consume? Some attributes like price, convenience and taste are relatively easy to determine, but whether an item was produced in an environmentally sustainable way is a lot harder to figure out.

In addition to taste (86 percent), price (68 percent) and convenience (57 percent), the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation’s 2019 Food and Health Survey determined that sustainability (54 percent) is an important factor when it comes to making a purchasing decision. 

Unfortunately, those 54 percent of participants have different interpretations about what makes a product environmentally sustainable, creating some confusion. The following list includes the top six interpretations of environmentally sustainable.

  • locally produced products: 51 percent 
  • products labeled as sustainably produced: 47 percent 
  • products labeled as non-GMO/not bio-engineered: 47 percent  
  • products labeled as organic: 44 percent
  • products that have recyclable packaging: 41 percent
  • products that have minimal packaging: 35 percent

With 63 percent of the survey participants also agreeing that it is hard to know if a product is environmentally sustainable, the confusion about the definition of environmentally sustainable makes sense. But a definition does exist. According to the U.N.’s Brundtland Commission on sustainable development, “sustainable development [meets] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” 

Healthy Snacks in New York City

To determine if a snack or beverage is sustainable look for the following certifications: USDA Organic, Animal Welfare Approved, Certified Humane Raised and Handled, Fair Trade USA Certified and Rainforest Alliance Certified. Another approach is to learn about a brand and the specific types of ingredients that brand uses. If an employee or student trusts a brand and is familiar with the types of ingredients that a brand uses, they are more likely to purchase that brand’s snacks and beverages

New York City employers and schools can help ensure that environmentally sustainable products are available for their employees and students by including vending machines with healthy and organic options in their break room or school lunchroom. Healthy Vending makes that even easier for local businesses and schools by only offering vending machines with healthy snacks and beverages. 

For more information about our menu, including healthy, all-natural and organic snacks and beverages, please call us at 917.572.3671. 

New York City, Build a Healthy Lifestyle One Step at a Time

Healthy Break Room Options in New York City

Staying healthy usually means something different to everyone whether it’s eating a certain way or participating in a favorite physical activity. As 2020 gets into full swing, let’s consider a super important but often forgotten organ that plays a huge role in everyone’s health – the lungs.

When a New York City individual’s lungs don’t work properly, it can impact their health, and as a result, there can be a negative impact on all parts of their life including their job. One way to keep the lungs healthy is to exercise.

Exercise

The American Lung Association, a nonprofit organization that works to improve lung health and prevent lung disease, sponsors an annual event that not only helps raise funds for the organization but also highlights the importance of exercise for lung health. It’s called the Fight For Air Climb, and it honors National Take the Stairs Day.

During the stair-climbing event, participants, from running and fitness enthusiasts to people of all abilities, take the stairs instead of the elevator to get to the top floor in the event. Often, the buildings used for Fight For Air Climb are tall skyscrapers with many flights of stairs.

If attending an event like the Fight for Air Climb isn’t an option for New York City employees, there are other ways to add small steps of exercise into one’s day such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking further away from the door, going on a walk during a lunch break and taking a stretch break during the workday. Regular exercise has other benefits as well. It boosts energy levels, improves muscle strength and increases the immune system’s ability to fight infections.

Healthy Break Room Options in New York City

Diet

The type of snacks and beverages that a New York City employee consumes can also have an impact on lung health. In addition to improving productivity and alertness, staying hydrated keeps the lungs working more effectively by thinning out linings located in the lungs. 

Portion size is another factor that can affect how well the lungs work. Not only can consistently eating portions that are too big cause weight gain, but they can also cause the stomach to be too full, decreasing the amount of space that the lungs have to expand. Healthy options to consider adding to one’s diet include lean proteins, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats.

Consuming water and other hydrating beverages plus healthy snacks provides a lot of benefits that many individuals never need to consider. In 2020, New York City employers and school districts have an opportunity to help their employees or students make healthier decisions by considering the types of snacks and beverages that are offered in the office break room or school lunchroom.

For more information about updating your refreshment menu to include healthier options, please contact Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671.

Snacks in New York City Get a Health Boost

Healthy Snacks in New York City

Choosing healthy snacks is becoming easier for New York City employers and students thanks to a new initiative by the International Food and Beverage Alliance (IFBA), a group of 12 leading global food and beverage companies.

According to a recent IFBA press release, the organization “is determined to innovate and optimize the composition of members’ products in order to help contribute to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) goal of eliminating industrially produced trans-fat (iTFA) from the global food supply by 2023.”

In other words, snacks and beverages, especially those made by IFBA companies, should have less artificial trans fats in them and be a lot healthier for New York City consumers. 

What are trans fats, and why are they unhealthy?

Trans fats come in two forms: naturally occurring and artificial. Naturally occurring trans fats come from some animals, are found in smaller quantities and have been found to be beneficial. Artificial trans fats, on the other hand, are the result of a chemical process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils creating a solid product and are very unhealthy. 

Because artificial trans fats are inexpensive to produce, have a longer shelf life than other fats and add a desirable taste and texture, they have historically been used as an ingredient in a wide variety of processed foods such as pie crusts, biscuits, frozen pizza, cookies and crackers.

Consuming artificial trans fats increases New York City individuals’ risk of developing heart disease and having a stroke because the artificial trans fats raise bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Artificial trans fats are also linked to long-term inflammation, type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. 

Healthy Snacks in New York City

Healthier Choices

For heart health, the American Heart Association suggests enjoying a diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, low-fat dairy, poultry and fish. When freshly prepared food is not available such as in many New York City break rooms or school lunchrooms, processed snacks made with unhydrogenated oil including canola, safflower, sunflower and olive oil are a great option. 

Healthy Vending, a full-service vending company, would like to provide your school or business with vending machines full of all-natural and organic snacks (with healthy fats) and beverages. For more information or to schedule a product sampling, please contact us at 917.572.3671.

Offer Healthy Snacks and Beverages Year-Round in New York City

Healthy Options in New York City

Making healthy decisions is always important, but for some, it is even more important as the days get shorter and darker. Whether it’s rain or snow, fall and winter weather can impact everyone. The decrease in sunlight throughout the fall and the increase in time spent indoors as it gets colder or rainier can cause the winter blues or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). According to the Mayo Clinic, common signs of SAD include lower energy levels, increased moodiness, oversleeping, appetite changes, weight gain and trouble concentrating.  

It’s not just the lack of sunshine causing winter blues and poor productivity; what New York City individuals put in their bodies plays a role too. Sugary quick fixes might provide a short-term energy boost, but in the long run, they are not helpful. 

For many, there is a tool available to help combat SAD; serotonin. Made from the amino acid tryptophan, serotonin is most often found in the digestive system. To maintain a healthy amount serotonin in the body, New York City individuals must consume tryptophan via their diet. 

Research also supports a decreased risk of experiencing depression when eating a healthy diet. Unfortunately, the western diet isn’t always considered to be a healthy diet. To maintain healthy levels of serotonin (and a healthy diet), it is important to enjoy foods that are high in vitamins, minerals and amino acids that are vital for serotonin production. 

Seven foods to enjoy during the winter to help combat SAD

Avocado: This fruit is rich in vitamin B6 (and other b-vitamins), which is needed for serotonin production. It is also high in fiber, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, which all contain great mood impacting nutrients.

Bananas: Rich in potassium and fiber, bananas also contain vitamins A, B6 and C; phosphorous; iron and tryptophan – the serotonin level boosting amino acid.

Berries: This colorful group of fruits is high in fiber and important antioxidants, which support the nervous system. While fiber does not directly produce serotonin, it plays an important role in the overall production process. Fiber is an important factor for good bacteria production in the gut, and since 90 percent of serotonin is generated in the gut, a healthy gut is very important.

Healthy Options in New York City

Dark Chocolate: High in nutrients and antioxidants, dark chocolate, made with a minimum of 70 percent cocoa solids, impacts serotonin on two levels. Enjoying any favorite food increases endorphins which in turn boost serotonin levels. Dark chocolate also contains magnesium, a necessary nutrient for serotonin production.

Eggs: A great source of amino acids including tryptophan, eggs also contain vitamin D and healthy fats. Maintaining healthy levels of vitamin D is important as low levels of vitamin D are connected to depression.

Almonds: As with dark chocolate, almonds are a great source of magnesium. Research has shown that magnesium plays an important role in regulating neurological pathways, and a deficiency can increase the chance of developing depression.

Spinach: Full of plant-based iron and mood-boosting B vitamins such as folate, vitamins B3, B6 and B12, spinach is a great leafy vegetable that supports serotonin production. Even though most dark leafy greens including spinach are not a favorite snack, they are a great addition to smoothies, egg dishes and soups. 

Some of the above foods may not taste the best when enjoyed on their own, but they can be enjoyed as part of a recipe. 

An easy way to encourage New York City employees to enjoy healthy foods while at work and increase endorphins is to host a healthy breakfast party in the break room. Instead of letting everyone know ahead of time, make it a surprise party for an additional endorphin boost. Offer healthy options like yogurt parfaits with berries or bananas topped with almonds, acai smoothie bowls, fresh fruit, dark chocolate oatmeal breakfast bars or cocoa banana muffins. 

Whether you’re interested in modifying your current break room vending machine menu or completely redesigning it, Healthy Vending can help. We offer a variety of healthy office break room and school lunchroom snack and beverage options. For more information, please contact us at 917.572.3671.

Offer Healthy and Sweet Treats in Your New York City Vending Machine

Healthy Sweet Treats in New York City

Healthy treats and sweet treats are often perceived by many New York City residents to be two very different things. One of them provides nutritional value while the other is full of unhealthy ingredients. But the term “healthy treat” doesn’t always have to refer to something that is a substitute for a preferred sweet treat. 

In fact, a treat doesn’t even need to be edible for it to be a treat. It might be purchasing music, fresh flowers, a new book, or new supplies for a favorite hobby. The most important thing is that the person who is enjoying it perceives it to be special and looks forward to the experience.

Treats, in all their forms, also help New York City employees build new and maintain current healthy habits. According to Gretchen Rubin, author and happiness expert, “When we don’t get any treats, we start to feel deprived—and feeling deprived is a very bad frame of mind for good habits. When we feel deprived, we feel entitled to put ourselves back in balance…and feel entitled to break our good habits.”

A delicious and healthy sweet treat that employers can offer their New York City employees, especially Millennials, is chocolate. While there are different types of chocolate consumers, Millennials, the largest generation in the workforce, tend to prefer a mix of dark, milk and white chocolate products made with high-quality cocoa by companies who value social/environmental stewardship. 

Healthy Sweet Treats in New York City

Chocolate also offers several health benefits. Made from different combinations of cocoa solids, cocoa butter, cocoa bean powder, sugar and milk powder, there are many options to choose from. Cocoa, the prime ingredient, contains antioxidants which benefits cardiovascular heath while flavonoids perform a variety of jobs such as helping control insulin sensitivity, improving blood flow, and protecting the skin against UV damage. 

Dark chocolate contains the highest amount of cocoa followed by milk chocolate then white chocolate. Milk chocolate contains a smaller percentage of cocoa solids and cocoa butter than dark chocolate plus milk powder and more sugar. While the milk powder and decreased amount of cocoa creates a smoother and sweeter chocolate, milk chocolate also has fewer flavonoids. White chocolate, made from sugar, milk, and a small amount of cocoa butter, doesn’t contain any flavonoids making it quite sweet. 

For chocolate to provide the most health benefits, it needs to be made with a higher percentage of cocoa, and avoid processing methods such as fermenting, alkalizing, and roasting that cause important flavonoids to be lost. Overall, sweet treats can be part of a balanced diet if New York City employees pay attention to portion sizes and frequency of consumption.

To support your New York City employees and students in making healthy “sweet treat” choices during their work or school day, it is important to create an environment where healthy options are the norm. Healthy Vending would like to help your organization customize an all-natural vending machine menu for your work break room or school lunchroom.

For more information or to schedule a product sampling, please call Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671. 

Free Vending in New York City Offers Multiple Benefits

Free Vend New York City

Everyone needs to feel appreciated, including New York City employees. Providing free vending in the workplace break room is just one way to express employee appreciation. While each organization in New York City has a different culture, there are several things that create a universal feeling of appreciation and are enjoyed by almost everyone.

How to Show Appreciation

The first one applies specifically to the break room. Ask for your employees’ opinions about which snacks and beverages they would like to have available for free vending. 

Also connected to the break room, would be to survey everyone about the type of environment or vibe they want in their break room. The right combination of refreshments at no cost plus a welcoming environment is sure to encourage employees to stay on-site when they need to re-hydrate or grab a bite to eat. 

The next three ways to show appreciation don’t have to be connected to the break room, but they can be. Offer employees special treats or meals that aren’t usually available in the break room such as ‘Waffle Wednesday’ or ‘Freshly Baked Cookie Friday.’ Donuts from a favorite bakery or popular pizza are also great options.

In the non-food arena, giving employees who have gone above what was expected extra time off acknowledges their effort and time. Not acknowledging their time and effort can silently convey to everyone that they, the employees and their coworkers, receive no benefit for putting in the extra work.

Another way to express appreciation is to perform random acts of kindness. Everyone has heard the story about one person in line purchasing a coffee for the person behind them. To the person who received the coffee, the experience was a random act of kindness. The same can be done for your New York City employees. A simple thank you note or someone’s favorite snack are acts of kindness that show appreciation.

Free Vend New York City

Why Show Appreciation

At the surface, expressing appreciation for your New York City employees improves engagement, retention and motivation, especially during the holiday season. But dig a bit deeper and see a positive impact on employee work/life balance. 

In a recent article published by O.C. Tanner, “Showing gratitude can increase a person’s wellness, increase better sleep habits, increase metabolism and lessen stress. This directly impacts work results and employee interaction. With employee appreciation, you’re not only boosting performance and engagement, but the employee’s well-being and health.”

Drill down a bit further to the core and find that increased appreciation causes more positive interactions which then has even more positive ripple effects moving outward. That sounds like a good thing for everyone.

While Healthy Vending can’t perform random acts of kindness directly for your New York City employees, we can help you customize the perfect break room. Whether it’s free vending, subsidized vending or traditional vending, your employees will know that you appreciate all that they do. For more information, please call Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671.

Celebrate Fall Activities in Your New York City Break Room

Celebrate Fall in New York City Break Room

The break room is the perfect place at work to celebrate fall. If your New York City employer hasn’t gotten into the fall spirit yet, October 26, 2019 is National Pumpkin Day. In addition to thinking about all the yummy things that can be made with pumpkins, fall is a great time to boost employee moral by encouraging New York City employees to branch out while having fun and meet colleagues in other departments. 

The following are a few ideas to help everyone welcome fall.

Host a pumpkin decorating or costume contest:  Everyone loves a bit of competition. With Halloween right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to host a costume or pumpkin decorating contest for your New York City employees. Both ideas work for single-person teams and multi-person teams, but multi-person teams can increase teamwork and morale. 

Decorate the office: There are a lot of different ways to decorate the break room or office for fall. Place decorated pumpkins (see pumpkin decorating contest above) or gourd arrangements around the room. Add in potted flower arrangements such as garden mums and tall grasses to bring more of the outdoors in. 

Enjoy hot mulled apple cider: Create an aroma based on a popular fall fruit – apples. Enjoyed cold or warm, apple cider delivers a unique flavor combination that is usually only found during the fall months. For a delicious apple aroma throughout the office, heat mulled apple cider on low in a slow cooker in the break room. Provide cups that are meant for hot liquids and a variety of healthy fall snacks.

Celebrate Fall in New York City Break Room

Offer fall flavored creamers: Pumpkin season brings out a desire for flavors that aren’t usually consumed year-round. Whether it’s cinnamon, ginger or nutmeg, there are a lot of fall flavored coffee creamers, such as pumpkin spice, gingerbread, cinnamon vanilla bean, that can brighten your New York City’s employees’ day. Don’t forget to offer a selection of non-dairy fall coffee creamers for those employees who do not consume dairy.

Support your community: Whether it’s a 5k or something longer, give back to your local community by sponsoring an employee team. For those employees who can’t or don’t want to run the race, there are other ways to be involved. Gather a group of coworkers to cheer on the participants and to meet the runners at the finish line or encourage employees to sign up to help with registration or to work at a water station. 

Not sure if your New York City break room is ready for all the pumpkins that will soon be arriving? Healthy Vending can help update your entire break room or customize your refreshment menu with sought-after snacks and beverages. For more information, please call Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671. 

Bottled Water Causes Hydration in New York City

bottled water in new york city

Bottled water is a healthy choice. Refreshing and great tasting, it is also convenient and portable. PepsiCo is upping their game and recently announced that they are taking bottled water and hydration to a new level with their Beyond the Bottle program. “The new system makes it easier for people to stay hydrated with great-tasting beverages, digitally track their hydration, and help meet the growing consumer demand for more sustainable packaging.” 

PepsiCo’s new program is an innovative ecosystem that addresses consumer desire for low-and-no-sugar beverages, the human need for hydration and the environmental impact of plastics on the earth. Each part plays an important role in both New York City’s consumers’ daily lives as well as the overall health of the environment. For this post, let’s focus on the individual.

Most New York City employees do not consume enough water. Unfortunately, that often means that they are not as hydrated as they could be. Staying properly hydrated means that more water is going into the body than the amount of water that is leaving. Dehydration is the opposite. 

If you’re thinking that just because summer is gone, and we’re heading toward much colder weather, you don’t have to think about staying hydrated, you’d be wrong. The effects of heating systems and the cold, itself, tend to draw moisture out of the body. Drinking enough water is important for all New York City individuals year-round.

Severe dehydration is dangerous and can cause life-threatening medical conditions, but most New York City employees usually contend with a milder form that still affects their day. Employee and student dehydration negatively impact workplace and school productivity because of a decrease in cognitive abilities, a reduction in concentration and alertness, and slower mental and physical reaction times. At work, it might be easy to overcome one or two coworkers who are dehydrated, but when about 75 percent of Americans are dehydrated, it is a real problem.

An easy way to decrease dehydration during the workday is to drink more water. 

bottled water in new york city

Even though bottled water is often a favorite packaged beverage, when it comes to hydration, water is water. It doesn’t matter if it’s a glass of filtered water or bottled water from the office break room or school lunchroom vending machine.  

Not a fan of plain water? Try adding a slice of lemon or lime or enjoying your favorite brand of flavored sparkling water. 

Bottled flat or carbonated water with fruit infused flavors offer the benefits of plain bottled water without any diet sweeteners or sugars. They are zero calorie, zero preservative, vegan, gluten-free and kosher. Mineral water offers additional health benefits when compared to traditional bottled water. As mineral water’s name suggests, there are extra minerals such as calcium and magnesium in the water that New York City students and employees need. 

It’s time to take the first step. Healthy Vending is here to help your organization customize the perfect refreshment menu for your New York City employees or students. Don’t forget to offer healthy snacks with a variety of bottled water choices as well as other healthy, cold beverages. For more information, please call Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671.

Take Care of New York City with Eco-Friendly Vending Technology

Vending Technology in New York City

Even small steps can have an impact. As a facility or school cafeteria manager, choosing eco-friendly vending technology for your New York City break room or school lunchroom is one of many ways to help take care of the health of your employees, students and city. Another way would be to encourage employees and students to volunteer for the next annual National CleanUp Day. This year’s event took place all around the country this past Saturday, September 21 and collected trash from cities, beaches, parks and hiking trails. 

Anyone can participate. All it takes is picking up trash off the ground. National CleanUp Day, a nonprofit organization, grew out of the question, “What would the world be like if everyone picked up at least one piece of litter?” The founders hoped that the result would be a cleaner country and stronger communities. Volunteering also offers physical and mental health benefits to those who participate. 

Supporting New York City employee and student mental and physical health can also take place in the break room or lunchroom. In addition to placing appropriate trash and recycling receptacles where they are most likely to be used, the type of vending machine technology used, and the quality of snacks and beverages offered are important.

Five innovative and efficient vending technologies can help decrease the negative impact that traditional energy-using machines. Energy Star ratings are usually the first thing thought of when thinking about eco-friendly machines, and they do cost less to operate and use less overall energy. Installing light-emitting diode (LED) light bulbs and motion sensors further decreases energy consumption and energy costs. 

The machines also use a product called Vending Miser. It monitors the number of people around the vending machine as well as any ambient temperature changes to use right amount of power to maintain the correct product temperature. Less lighting and fewer compression cycles decreases energy usage and costs for New York City employers and schools.    

Vend Screen is an interactive touch screen located on each machine that enables employees and students to use mobile payments and access product information.   

Vending Technology in New York City

Mobile Vending Request App, a cloud-based mobile app service, simplifies the process for reporting service issues. The technology combines the mobile app with QR codes located on each machine. If a user has a problem, they scan the QR code, and the problem is instantaneously reported. Other customer service features include requesting new products, making customer service inquiries, reporting machine issues, leaving feedback, and connecting with us on social media.

Finally, The Mind™ is an easy-to-use tool accessed via the touch screen on each machine that provides users with nutritional and ingredient information before choosing a healthy snack or beverage. It’s as simple as touching a thumbnail of the product or entering the product ID on the screen. 

Healthy Vending can also help ensure your New York City employees and students are only offered high-quality and healthy snacks and beverages. We are 100 percent dedicated to providing health snacks and beverages and offer a large selection of all-natural and organic products. For more information or to schedule a product sampling, please contact us at 917.572.3671.