Consumers in New York and elsewhere are following healthier diets, 
according to a recent Gallup Poll. The poll found consumers are more likely to avoid soda than 14 other foods, including sugar and fat. At least six in 10 U.S. adults say they are trying to steer clear of soda altogether.
This is good news for everyone in New York. When people follow healthier diets, they live longer and they are more productive. As a result, everyone wins. Employers pay less for health insurance. Government spends less of our tax dollars on health care. Taxpayers face fewer tax increases to pay for health care costs.
It is a drastic change from 15 years ago. Consumers are far more likely today (61%) than in 2002 (41%) to say they are avoiding soda.
Likewise, the percentage of who actively include soda in their diet has dropped since 2002, from 36% to 22%.
It is not only regular soda consumers are avoiding. They are also avoiding diet soda out of concern for artificial sweeteners. In this year’s poll, Gallup asked half of the respondents about diet soda and the other half about regular soda. The results were nearly identical, with 61% saying they avoid regular soda and 62% saying the same for diet soda.
Doctors advise that lower-calorie and natural beverages, such as skim milk or water, are healthier choices than soda.
The poll also found consumers have become more likely to avoid sugar. In 2002, 43% were avoiding sugar compared to 50% in 2015.
In addition, consumers have recognized the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables. The Gallup Poll reports that at least nine in 10 consumers try to include both fruits and vegetables in their diet. At least three in four try to include chicken and fish in their diet. Nutrition experts often recommend chicken and fish to help with heart health, in lieu of beef and other red meat.
Healthy Vending applauds the progress New Yorkers are making in following healthier lifestyles.
But there is still work to do. The vast majority of consumers in New York and elsewhere say they are trying to follow healthier eating habits. But they are not always able to meet their goals, hard as they may try. One reason is that the healthy choices are not always readily available. This is especially true in today’s New York, where workers are often eating on the run.
We launched Healthy Vending in 2000 to help New Yorkers who wanted to maintain healthy diets and consume less calories. One of the most unique aspects about our company is that we provide these healthy products conveniently for consumers. Healthy Vending only carries those products that are part of what most consumers consider to be a healthy diet.
For more information about healthy snack and beverage options available to the vending industry, contact your New York City vending partner, Healthy Vending, at 917-572-3671 to discuss your customized break room solution.
At Long Last: Obesity Rates Start To Fall, But More Needs To Be Done In New York City
Better eating habits are starting to make a difference in New York 
City and the rest of America. For the first time in decades, obesity rates have leveled off for adults and school aged children, according to a recent New York Times data analysis. For younger children, obesity has actually declined. The amount of full calorie soda consumed has fallen by 25 percent since the late 1990s.
What accounts for this good news? Health experts say people have started to realize they were consuming too many calories.
The government organized public health campaigns in response to reports showing obesity was taking its toll on the American population. “I think people are hearing the message, and diet is slowly improving,” said Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, the dean of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.
This is a major piece of good news for New York consumers. Healthy Vending applauds the work that the scientific community, public service agencies and nutritionists have done to reverse the obesity epidemic. The improvement is the result of decades of hard work.
In 1999, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published a paper in The Journal of the American Medical Association that turned into something of a blockbuster. The paper illustrated worsening obesity rates in the 1980s and 1990s in all 50 states.
Shortly afterward, then surgeon general Dr. David Satcher issued a report — “Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity.” This 2001 report summarized the evidence that obesity was a risk factor for several chronic diseases. He said controlling children’s weight should be a priority to prevent the onset of obesity-related illnesses.
We launched Healthy Vending in 2000 to support New York consumers who wanted to maintain healthy diets and consume less calories. Healthy Vending became one of the companies committed to the battle against obesity.
Gradually, our message began to take hold.
By 2003, 60 percent of Americans said they wanted to lose weight, according to the Gallup Organization, up from 52 percent in 1990 and 35 percent in the 1950s.
The Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, required chain restaurants to publish the calorie content of their meals. The government also required healthier school lunches.
Beverage companies began marketing diet drinks and invested in new products with less calories, including iced teas and flavored water.
There is still work to do. Kevin Hall, a researcher at the National Institutes of Health, estimated that for Americans to return to the body weights of 1978 by 2020, an average adult will have to reduce calorie consumption by 220 calories a day. The recent reductions represent just a fraction of that change.
Health Vending stands ready to help in the effort to improve the environment for those New Yorkers who want to follow healthy lifestyles. One of the most unique aspects about our company is that we provide these healthy products conveniently for consumers.
For more information about healthy snack and beverage options available to the vending industry, contact your New York City vending partner, Healthy Vending, at 917-572-3671 to discuss your customized break room solution.
Bottled Water: A Healthy Way To Beat The Summer Heat in New York
Looking for a healthy way to stay hydrated during this hot New York summer? Healthy Vending has you covered with its array of bottled water choices. Bottled water continues to grow in New York as consumers recognize the importance of staying hydrated during the day.
“Consumers’ thirst for bottled water appears on track to persist in the years ahead,” says Michael Bellas, chairman and CEO of the New York City-based Beverage Marketing Corp. (BMC), which researches beverage trends. “Changes in per capita consumption indicate enthusiasm for a product that consumers regard as a healthful alternative to other beverages. Americans upped their annual bottled water consumption by almost 11 gallons during the period 2004 to 2015. It went from 23.2 gallons per person in 2004 to 34 gallons in 2014.”
During the same period, per capita consumption of carbonated soft drinks dropped by more than a dozen gallons, Bellas notes. “Per capita consumption of other major beverage categories, like milk and fruit beverages, also declined.”
Reflecting a clear trend of consumers increasingly choosing healthy, convenient, zero-calorie bottled water, BMC reported that over the past five years alone, bottled water has increased its “share of stomach” of the overall beverage market from 14.4 percent in 2009 to 17.8 percent in 2014. “If current trends persist, bottled water could emerge as the largest beverage category by volume in the country by the end of the decade,” says Bellas.
Many attributes that contribute to bottled water’s undeniable appeal to U.S. consumers, says Chris Hogan, vice president of communications at the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), based in Alexandria, Va. Among them are bottled water’s healthfulness, convenience, and safety.
Bottled water’s versatility makes it suitable for consumption at any time of day and in just about any setting. It doesn’t need to be kept ice cold (like soft drinks or juice) or warm (like conventional coffee or tea).
Consumers’ interest in beverages that deliver benefits above and beyond simple refreshment also contributes to bottled water’s ascension in the beverage rankings. Amid worries about obesity, diabetes, and other health matters, bottled water’s lack of calories and artificial ingredients, convenience, and refreshing taste attracts health-conscientious consumers.
Bottled water is regulated as a food product by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA regulations governing the safety and quality of bottled water must be at least as stringent as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards for tap water. And, in some very important cases like lead, coliform bacteria, and E. coli, bottled water regulations are substantially more stringent, according to IBWA.
The bottled water industry is utilizing a variety of measures to continue reducing its environmental impact. All bottled water containers are 100 percent recyclable and many bottled water companies are already using recycled plastic in their bottles. Some are even producing 100 percent recycled PET plastic bottled water containers.
“Although it has occasionally been compared with tap water, bottled water in fact realized its prominence as a healthful choice for consumers seeking to reduce their consumption of other less healthy packaged beverages. While some consumers have turned away from regular, full-calorie sodas in favor of their diet versions, many others transitioned to bottled water instead,” says Bellas.
“Bottled water has the smallest water and energy use footprint of any packaged beverage,” adds Hogan. “The results of a 2014 benchmarking study show that the amount of water and energy used to produce bottled water products in North America is less than all other types of packaged beverages. On average, only 1.32 liters of water (including the liter of water consumed) and 0.24 mega joules of energy are used to produce one liter of finished bottled water.”
For more information about healthy snack and beverage options, contact your New York City vending partner, Healthy Vending, at 917-572-3671.
FDA Orders Elimination Of Trans Fats From Food; What’s Taken So Long?
Why does it take the government so long to make laws to protect 
public health after scientific evidence confirms that certain types of food need to be regulated? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) decided in June that artificial trans fat will have to disappear from the American diet. The department has given food manufacturers three years to remove the partially hydrogenated oils, or PHOs, from their products.
Healthy Vending applauds the government’s action. But the fact that it has taken the FDA so long to issue the removal of trans fats is concerning for New York consumers. It demonstrates the need for New York consumers to stay informed about food health issues.
Healthy Vending was established in 2000 on account of the high levels of fat used in many snacks. Trans fats in particular have concerned health experts who have advocated government action.
In response to these concerns, the government required food manufacturers to list trans fat content on labels in 2006.
In 2013, the FDA made a tentative determination that trans fats were no longer safe .
Clearly, it has taken a long time for the FDA to require manufacturers to remove trans fats.
“The FDA’s actions to ultimately remove artificial trans fat from the diets of all Americans is a tremendous step forward in the fight against heart disease,” says Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “Eating a healthy diet is a critical element of prevention, and prevention is the key to conquering heart disease – our nation’s No. 1 killer. Taking artificial trans fat out of foods will help Americans achieve this goal and build lives free of heart disease.”
But the FDA’s recent action is only one step in protecting New York consumers’ health in relation to trans fat. As Healthy Vending is well aware, food labels do not communicate everything a consumer needs to know about trans fats.
New York consumers who check food labels for trans fats may not realize that even though the label reads, “Trans fats 0 grams per serving,” that does not necessarily mean zero, according to Ronda Elsenbrook, R.D., L.D., a registered dietitian in the Nutritional Services department at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic in Houston, Texas. Elsenbrook recently told CNN that manufacturers that produce foods containing less than 0.5 grams of trans fats can round that number down to zero. So, you might actually be getting 0.4 grams of trans fats per serving, even though the label reads 0 grams.
When we launched Healthy Vending in the greater New York City 
area in 2000, we understood that consumers want healthier snacks and beverages. There was plenty of research to prove this. Lots of school districts in and around New York City were enacting healthy food and beverage rules.
For more information about healthy snack and beverage options available to schools and your local business, contact your New York City vending partner, Healthy Vending, at 917-572-3671.
Centers for Disease Control Updates Its School Health Index To Help New York City Schools Fight Childhood Obesity
The Center for Disease Control (CDC), partnering with the Alliance 
for a Healthier Generation, has updated its School Health Index (SHI). The 2014 SHI guides school-based obesity prevention and health promotion efforts. The SHI is a valuable tool that New York City area schools can use to help reduce childhood obesity in addition to other measures.
Healthy Vending welcomes the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the CDC as partners in its efforts to reduce childhood obesity in New York City area schools. Healthy Vending helps New York City students stay healthy and ready to learn.
The Alliance has replaced its Healthy Schools Program Inventory with the School Health Index (SHI). By offering a unified assessment tool, the CDC and the Alliance make it easier for schools to implement policies and practices that can help students stay healthy and ready to learn. SHI benefits include:
• Less confusion about which evidence-based assessment tool to use.
• Monitoring and alignment of school-based health policies and practices with national surveillance systems.
• Better coordination of training and technical assistance between the CDC and the Alliance.
Two versions of the SHI exist and can be accessed from both the CDC and Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program websites, https://schools.healthiergeneration.org/ and www.cdc.gov/healthyyou.
The SHI Self-Assessment & Planning Guide 2014 is an online self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. It’s easy to use and completely confidential.
The SHI was developed by CDC in partnership with school administrators and staff, school health experts, parents, and national non-governmental health and education agencies to:
• Enable schools to identify strengths and weaknesses of health and safety policies and programs.
• Enable schools to develop an action plan for improving student health, which can be incorporated into the School Improvement Plan.
• Engage teachers, parents, students, and the community in promoting health-enhancing behaviors and better health.
The SHI is based on CDC’s research-based guidelines for school health programs, which identify the policies and practices most likely to be effective in reducing youth health risk behaviors.
The SHI 2014 features:
• Updated nutrition content to align with new USDA regulations, 
including Smart Snacks in School nutrition standards.
• Revised physical education content to align with updated national standards and advancements in physical activity programming.
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program has adopted CDC’s SHI assessment tool to help schools assess their current policies and practices as well as track progress over time.
For more information about healthy snack and beverage options available to schools, contact your New York City vending partner, Healthy Vending, at 917-572-3671.
Nielsen Survey Quantifies Growing Demand For Healthy Snacks; Right On The Money In New York City
When we launched Healthy Vending in the greater New York City 
area in 2000, we understood that consumers want healthier snacks and beverages. There was plenty of research to prove this. Lots of school districts in and around New York City were enacting healthy food and beverage rules.
When we announced Healthy Vending, the positive consumer reaction in New York City confirmed everything we believed about the demand for these products. One of the most unique aspects about our company is that we provide these healthy products conveniently for consumers.
The Nielsen Global Survey of Snacking polled more than 30,000 consumers in 60 countries in 2014 and found that consumers everywhere are shifting their habits to healthy snacking. This survey is one of many we have seen that confirms the big demand for healthy snacks.
Global demand means a lot in New York City, since it is a very global community.
This survey also quantifies another important fact about snacking today; snacking habits are changing. Snacking is becoming a form of meal replacement as consumers’ work schedules are less structured. Hence, consumers who want to follow a healthy lifestyle want their snacks to be healthy because the snacks are now a more important part of their daily lifestyles.
Healthy Vending provides a service that will allow New York City locations to allow their employees and/or patrons to remain on-premises for their nutrition and energy needs. Hence, employees and partrons value the location as an employer and/or business provider.
Here are some highlights of the recent Nielsen Global Survey of
Snacking Survey:
• Snacks with all natural ingredients are rated as very important by 45% of respondents and moderately important by 32%; natural ingredients were the highest of 20 health attributes queried. Following this came the absence of artificial colors (44%), absence of GMOs (43%) and absence of artificial flavors (42%).
• One third of respondents want snacks low in sugar (34%), salt (34%), and calories (30%).
• Environmentally-conscious consumers think it important that snacks be sourced sustainably (35%), organic (34%) and use local herbs (25%).
• Nutrition is the leading reason why respondents snack (63%), followed by getting an energy boost (61%).
• One-fourth of those surveyed want snacks that have either low or no carbohydrates.
• About one-third are looking for beneficial ingredients, rating fiber (37%), protein (31%) and whole grains (29%) as very important attributes in the snacks they eat.
• Environmentally-conscious consumers believe it is very important that snacks include ingredients that are sourced sustainably (35%), are organic (34%) and use local herbs (25%).
• While snacks are still consumed to satisfy hunger between meals, 45% consume snacks as a meal alternative—52% for breakfast, 43% for lunch and 40% for dinner.
For more information about healthy snack and beverage options available to the vending industry, contact your New York City vending partner, Healthy Vending, at 917-572-3671 to discuss your customized break room solution.
Offering Bottled Water In Your New York City Break Room
The findings of a November 2014 survey, conducted for the International Bottled Water Association suggest that the Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) was not far off the mark when they announced that bottled water is on course to become the number one packaged beverage in America by 2016.
Some of the surveys key findings included that:
• 96% of Americans (based on the 2,000 U.S. adults surveyed) believed we should drink more water
• 95% think that bottled water is a healthier alternative to soft drinks
• 92% believe that bottled water should be available wherever other beverages are sold
• 55% listed bottled water as being among their preferred beverages
• 91% listed health considerations (like calorie intake) as at least somewhat important when deciding on a beverage to consume
These numbers although interesting are not as important as these:
• 70% of your body is composed of water and every function, including brain activity is dependent on it
• Your brain is about 85% water
• The average person in the U.S drinks less than 32oz of water a day, even though, according to the Mayo Clinic the average adult loses 80oz of water a day through sweating, breathing and eliminating waste
• Water gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain functions, including thought and memory processes.
• Water gives the brain the electrical energy for all brain functions, including thought and memory processes. When your brain is functioning on a full reserve of water, you will be able to think faster, be more focused and experience greater clarity and creativity.
So what do all of these numbers mean for your workplace? They mean that your employees are craving healthier drinking options, especially filtered water, and if you make them readily available to them you are not only going to have happier employees but better hydrated more productive employees.
Call Healthy Vending New York today at 917.572.3671 to discuss your customized break room solution. And when you need bottled water, for meetings at your New York City location, for guests or for company outings, keep in mind one other trend: consumers prefer to purchase bottled water in cost-saving volume. Purchase it from us at a very competitive price and save yourself the heavy lifting.
New York Vending Providers Embracing Healthy Products in Newer and Better Ways
Common negative stigmas are associated with vending machines. 
Can’t think of any? We’re sure you can but just in case you can’t here are a few:
• They steal your money or don’t take your money
• Product gets stuck
• They only offer junk food
To combat these negative images the vending industry has:
• Embraced cashless technology
• Installed SureVend technology – using infrareds to detect whether or not a product has vended, ensuring your employees either get their product or their money back
• Added healthy beverages and snack options to our product lines.
Perhaps the greatest advances have been in regards to point #3. 
Fitnessmagazine.com listed 10 healthy vending machine snacks that were low fat or fat free including: baked chips, kale chips, pretzels, dried fruit, Cliff bars and even some gluten free cookies.
Although the acknowledgement that it’s possible to find healthy snacks in vending machines is appreciated, this list fails to do justice to the vast variety of healthy alternative options available in vending today.
If we were to make our own list it would include some of the following products:
• Gluten free items
• Organic items
• Vegan items
• Beef jerky
• Be Kind bars
• Go Picnics
• Trail mixes
• PopChips
• Coconut water
• Sparkling water
• Fresh fruit
This list could continue for quite a bit longer but to save your scroll finger let’s just say this: healthy and vending are no longer antonyms but synonyms. Vending machines have progressed with the times and so have the products they offer.
For more information on healthy snack and beverage options available to the vending industry contact your New York City vending provider, HealthyVendingNY.com at 917.572.3671 today!
Hello world!
Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!