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).

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. 

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. 

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.

The beverage industry is changing and growing to meet new demand. Gone are the days of choosing a drink solely based on its taste, convenience, image and affordability. In 2019, New York City consumers not only look for those qualities but also look for naturalness, health, function, sustainability and ethics. The belief that what we consume or don’t consume can greatly impact our health has become more popular, and all types of beverages fall into the consumable category.

To meet the rapidly increasing demand for healthier drink options, companies in the beverage industry are developing new healthy options and acquiring other businesses that already have successful healthy beverage lines. Several in-demand options that are already available in New York City vending machines include ready-to-drink (RTD) tea, sparkling water, fruit drinks and various plant waters.

RTD Tea

Ready-to-drink tea is iced tea that is already prepared and sold in bottles or cans. Just as with hot teas, there are many different types of tea such as black tea and green tea sold in the RTD format. The healthy benefits from drinking tea can also here. RTD tea is hydrating, contains antioxidants and can soothe an upset stomach. Other benefits can include decreased risk for heart attack and stroke, lower levels of LDL cholesterol and a strengthened immune system.

Flat or Sparkling(Carbonated) Water

Water in any form is good for New York City employees and students. A key benefit of drinking water is increased hydration, which can increase alertness and productivity. Sparkling or carbonated water can also help calm an upset stomach and cause one to feel full faster, decreasing the amount eaten. 

Fruit Drinks

Unlike traditional sodas, fruit drinks or fruit flavored sodas are made from juice concentrates and contain additional nutrients like vitamin c and antioxidants. While there is usually no added sugar such as high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, it is still important to be aware of how much natural sugar is in a serving, and how many servings are consumed.

Plant  Waters

The type of plant water that many New York City consumers are most familiar with is coconut water, which is made from the clear liquid or water found inside of a coconut. There are three other plant waters that are becoming more well known – birch water, watermelon water and maple water. Just as maple water is made from the sap of maple trees, birch water is made from the sap of birch trees. Watermelon water usually has four ingredients, pressed watermelon flesh, watermelon rind, filtered water and a drop of lemon juice. Each of these four waters is hydrating and offers a variety of amino acids, electrolytes and other nutrients and minerals.

Have you seen your New York City employees or students enjoying any of the above mentioned healthy beverages? It’s time to make sure they have access to their favorites in the break room and school lunchroom vending machines. And don’t forget to offer healthy snacks as well. Hydrated and satiated employees and students are more alert and productive. 
For more information or to schedule as tasting session, please call Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671.

Bottled water has done it again. “For a third year in a row, bottled water is the No. 1 packaged beverage in the United States,” according to Jill Culora, IBWA’s vice president of communications. Bottled still and/or sparkling water is also 72 percent of Americans’ preferred non-alcoholic beverage, an increase of nine percent over 2018. For those who prefer bottled water, taste is the most important feature (98 percent) followed by quality (98 percent), and safety (90 percent).

With 84 percent of New York City residents trying to drink more water, and the hot summer season upon us, let’s take a step back and look at fun summer beverages that often began as flat or carbonated water.

• lemonade: water, lemon juice, and a sweetener, to taste
• iced tea: water, tea, and a sweetener, if desired
• fruit/veggie/herb-infused water: water plus any combination such as strawberry & lime, lemon & basil, strawberry & basil, lemon & raspberry, and cherry & lime

If none of those flavor combinations sound appealing, consider choosing one or more of the following fruits and vegetables that are in-season in the New York City area: mint, blueberries, apricots, kiwi, cherries, cucumbers and peaches. There are also a number of different ways to infuse the water with the flavors of your choice. 

You might try squeezing a bit of the juice from citrus fruit (ex. lime, lemon or orange) into a glass or pitcher of water and enjoying. Depending on the size of the container, sliced or chopped fruit can be placed at the bottom of a pitcher or glass and soaked overnight (pitcher) or for a couple hours (glass). Berries can be mashed and placed at the bottom of a glass, and the glass filled with water. For herbs, such as mint leaves, tear up the leaves, cover them in water, and let the water steep. 

The number of flavor combinations and preparation methods are limitless, but not everyone will have the option or want to prepare a water-based beverage. 

While almost three-quarters of Americans voted bottled water as their first choice, don’t forget about other popular beverages. Sixty-one percent of those polled ranked coffee in second place and soft drinks in third with 59 percent. In 2019, New York City employees and students have a lot of healthier options available including natural and organic sodas and carbonated juices. 

Healthy Vending would like to help New York City employers and schools provide their employees or students with healthy beverages and snacks in their break room or lunchroom vending machine. Hydrated and satiated individuals have more energy and are more focused. For more information or to schedule a product sampling today, call Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671.

Did you know that there’s a podcast about bottled water? The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) recently launched the podcast titled H2O In The Know. Each episode focuses on different water related topics including the current science on hydration, how to increase recycling rates, standards and regulations, and the taste of different types of waters. 

Jull Culora, IBWA Vice President of Communication, recently shared that “H2O In The Know offers consumers a great new way to learn interesting facts and stories about water, especially bottled water.” Let’s take a quick look at some of the questions that were discussed in the first episode. 

Before we get to the first question, you might be wondering what any of this has to do with you, a New York City consumer. The answer is…a lot.

Humans need water to survive. Research has shown that humans can last three maybe four days without consuming any water. But, that doesn’t mean that every bit of water on the earth is safe to be consumed. To understand if a certain type of water is good for human consumption, it is important to know more about that type of water. For the bottled water industry, specifically, the answers to the following questions will help New York City consumers learn more about what they are drinking, and when it comes to things we consume, more knowledge is definitely better.

Are there regulations for bottled water?

The short answer is yes, there are. Bottled water is regulated at both the federal and state level and is considered a packaged food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, the FDA regulations governing the safety and quality of bottled water are as stringent as the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulations that govern tap water.  

Are there standards that pertain to only bottled water?

Again, the answer is yes. For the standards that focus on bottled water, the FDA has divided them into the following groups.

• Standards of Identity: regulations that define the different types of bottled water
• Standards of Quality: regulations that set maximum levels for contaminants that are allowed
• Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP): regulations that set manufacturing parameters to ensure that food, including snack and beverages, is healthy to consume.

What  types of bottled water are available?

Per the FDA, there are six different types of bottled water available. They are spring water, purified water, mineral water, sparkling bottled water, artesian water or artesian well water, and well water. To help New York City consumers know which type of water they have, the FDA also requires that each type of water be clearly printed on the label of each bottle of water.

Now that you’re aware of some of the regulations and standards, use this information to help your New York City employees and students by removing a potential concern that they shouldn’t have to think about during their day. Provide them with healthy vending machine beverages and snacks in their break room or school lunchroom. For an extra bonus for your employees, offer snacks and beverages at a reduced or zero cost. Not only will they be hydrated and satiated, but morale will get a boost too.

For more information about offering healthy snacks and beverages in your workplace break room or school lunchroom, contact Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671. We’ll help you create a customized, healthy menu that is sure to please everyone.

What is healthy and hydrating and delivers a fizzy boost? It’s sparkling water!

As the new year gets into full swing, new and existing health-conscious shoppers are on the hunt for all-natural, great-tasting beverages. Sparkling water and its many flavors and bubbles are the perfect choice but making a change or trying something new can be tough. To encourage your New York City employees or students to visit the break room or school lunchroom and enjoy a new beverage, there are a few things to try.

• Introduce a new beverage, such as a new sparkling water flavor, with an incentive. Who wants to miss out on limited, special-discounted price?
• Transform the concept of Happy Hour into an “Afternoon Pick-Me-Up” Hour with afternoon beverage specials and snacks that complement specific beverages, such as new sparkling water brand or flavor with a sweet granola bar or crunchy, baked chips.
• Host an event-based promotion, such as midweek Trivia competition or a March Madness event with sparkling water, iced tea, organic soda and a selection of delicious and healthy snacks.
• Host a which is the “best-tasting flavor” sparkling water competition or a competition to see who can guess the new sparkling water flavor to pique the interest of New York City employees or students who are curious about trying new beverages but are worried about spending money on a flavor they might not like. Encourage participation by offering unique prizes to the winner.

Two great sparkling water brands to encourage your employees or students to try are LaCroix and bubly. LaCroix sparkling water comes in a variety of flavors and contains 100% natural essences, no sugar, and no artificial ingredients. bubly, new to the sparkling water market, also offers a variety of flavors with no artificial flavors, sweeteners and calories. It’s all up to everyone’s flavor preferences.

Which flavors would your New York City employees or students prefer? Healthy Vending is excited to help you sort out which flavors appeal the most and add those new, healthy beverages to your break room vending options. For more information about customizing your break room with healthy snacks and beverages, contact us at 917.572.3671.

Do you drink enough water on a daily basis to meet your health needs? If you’re like 77 percent of a group of recently surveyed employed Americans, you don’t. The reason given by 43 percent of those individuals was lack of thirst. Before going any further, it is important to make a necessary statement.

If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated.

Staying hydrated is crucial. Hydration not only plays an important role in an individual’s health, but it also impacts how that individual functions. Because dehydration has already occurred before a New York City individual realizes that they are thirsty, the negative impact of dehydration has also likely happened.

Mild dehydration has been known to have a negative impact on productivity, energy levels, and alertness. Hydrated employees can also have an impact on workplace productivity. Tony Ibarguen, CEO of Quench recently said, “One inexpensive way to boost productivity is to encourage hydration. Companies that make it easy and convenient for their people to access and drink more water throughout the day may see their employees’ energy levels, engagement and work capacity increase.”

Unfortunately, there are several obstacles that must first be removed if New York City employees are going to consume more: lack of time to get water; have to pay for it; and dislike the taste of it at work.

Let’s look at three ways to overcome those obstacles and help employees stay hydrated.

Lack of time to get it

Consider the placement of beverage vending machines throughout your office or facility. In addition to placing vending machines in the break room, also consider placing beverage vending machines in highly trafficked areas. By creating opportunities to get bottled water in areas where employees naturally traverse, those employees are more likely to stop and grab a bottle.

This approach is also backed by science. Researchers at the University College of London found that study participants were more likely to take the path of least resistance when it came to accomplishing a task. So in other words, it’s important to place as few obstacles as possible along the way to get a bottle of water.

Have to pay for it

While bottleless water coolers that connect directly to the building’s water supply or a filtration system can sometimes be a solution, there are many other situations when that is not an option. A great way to provide bottled water and overcome employees needing to pay for it is to offer vending machine beverages at a reduced cost or for free. New York City employees see free or subsidized vending as a high-value benefit, but for employers, the cost is much lower than the perceived value.

Dislike the taste of it at work

Yes, it is true. Water has a taste. Recent research published in a monthly scientific journal about neuroscience found that water has a flavor. While researchers believe water’s flavor should be in its own category, they discovered that its flavor is most closely related to the sour flavor category. Given this information, it is important to offer a variety of options from ‘normal’ bottled water to bottled flavored sparkling water. Each one of these will have a unique taste that reflects its specific mineral content or any natural flavors such as fresh fruit that might have been added.

Healthy Vending can help New York City employers overcome all three of these obstacles, and help employees stay hydrated by offering a variety of healthy beverages in vending machines throughout your place of employment. Available options include regular bottled water; bottled water with electrolytes; sparkling bottled water with electrolytes; and plain and flavored sparkling bottled mineral water. And don’t forget to offer healthy snacks to go with your employees’ preferred choice. Hydrated and satiated employees are a win for everyone.

For more information about healthy vending machine options to your New York City break room, contact Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671. We look forward to helping your employees stay hydrated.

In 2018, there is a disconnect between New York City’s favorite packaged snack and beverage brands and the labels on snack and beverage packages that make them more appealing. Morning Consult Intelligence, a survey research and media monitoring organization, recently determined that the top 10 favorite packaged snack and beverage brands fall onto the ‘traditional’ side of the traditional versus healthy equation. But that same cohort of adults agreed that the words that typically describe the healthy side of the equation made products more appealing. For example:

• 81 percent believe the word “fresh” makes products more appealing.
• 68 percent said that labels including “sourced from American farmers,” “nutritious,” or “a high source of vitamins” makes products more appealing.
• 66 percent agreed the words “natural flavors” makes products more appealing.
• 58 percent said that “naturally sweetened” and “high in fiber” also makes products more appealing
• 42 percent to 50 percent believe that “free-range,” “low-calorie,” “organic,” “non-GMO,” “fat-free,” “sugar-free,” and “sustainably sourced” makes products more appealing.
• 54 percent of 18 to 29-year-olds say a product labeled organic is more appealing compared to 37 percent of those 65 and older.

Healthy Vending goes above and beyond by being 100 percent dedicated to providing healthy snack and beverage choices that fall into the “more appealing” category to New York City businesses and schools. Terms that represent many of our snack and beverage options also match those found in the study: organic; fair trade; non-GMO, no artificial colors, preservatives, or ingredients; vitamins and minerals; concern about different dietary needs (vegan, kosher, gluten free).

In addition to offering snack and beverage alternatives in vending machines, Healthy Vending uses vending machine technology to help educate New York City employees and students before making a purchase. Each vending machine is equipped with the MIND™, Make Informed Nutritional Decisions, a user-friendly touch screen monitor that displays product information and nutrition panels for every snack and beverage in the machine. An added bonus — the majority of the snacks and beverages in our vending machines are equal in price to less healthy options.

Providing support for the well-being of your New York City employees can also come in the form of supporting financial health. Whether it’s covering all or part of the cost of healthy snacks and beverages, this benefit represents a higher value to employees than the actual cost to employers. A physically healthy employee with a healthy financial picture is an employee with less stress who can be more productive.  

Healthy Vending continues to be a healthy resource that gives New York City employees and students a healthy alternative. For more information about offering healthy snack and beverage vending machine options in your office break room or school lunchroom, please contact us at 917.572.3671. We look forward to working with you.

For the first time in history, bottled water is the No.1 packaged beverage in the United States (by volume). People are shifting away from less healthy packaged drinks and choosing the healthy option—bottled water.

-Jill Culora, International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), Vice President of Communications

According to a recent study by the IBWA, more than 63 percent of Americans choose bottled water as their beverage of choice. And 94 percent of Americans believe that bottled water is healthier than soft drinks. But what exactly does the phrase ‘bottled water’ mean? The definition is more complex than it might initially seem.

Per the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), bottled water is a consumer food product; which means that strict standards of identity must be followed in order to legally call a bottle filled with water ‘bottled water’. The FDA requires that the “type” of water must be clearly printed on the label of all bottled water sold in the United States. To understand the FDA’s classifications, it is important to know the following terms.

Spring Water: “Derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the surface, this water must be collected only at the spring or through a borehole that taps the underground formation feeding the spring. If some external force is used to collect the water through a borehole, the water must have the same composition and quality as the water that naturally flows to the surface.”

Purified Water: “Bottled water that has been treated by distillation, reverse osmosis, or another suitable process may meet standards that allow it to be labeled as “purified water.””

Mineral Water: “This water comes from an underground source and contains at least 250 parts per million total dissolved solids. Minerals and trace elements must come from the source of the underground water. They cannot be added later.”

Artesian Water/Artesian Well Water: “This water is collected from a well that taps an aquifer—layers of porous rock, sand, and earth that contain water—which is under pressure from surrounding upper layers of rock or clay. When tapped, the pressure in the aquifer, commonly called artesian pressure, pushes the water above the level of the aquifer, sometimes to the surface. Other means may be used to help bring the water to the surface.”

Well Water: “This is water from a hole bored or drilled into the ground, which taps into an aquifer.”

Understanding the different water sources and methods of extraction will help New York City employees answer questions about the taste, quality, and safety of a specific type of water. This is especially important as 82 percent of Americans think they should drink more water and 90 percent believe that bottled water is a healthy and convenient beverage.

To help your New York City employees stay hydrated and healthy, make sure to include bottled water in your office break room vending machine. Try offering healthy snacks with healthy beverages at a reduced cost. It not only keeps everyone hydrated and satiated, but it’s also a great moral booster. For more information about adding healthy vending machines to your New York City break room, call Healthy Vending at 917.572.3671.