Grab-and-Go: 10 Best Healthy Vending Machine Snacks

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Although the occasional treat is fine now and again, eating a well-balanced diet is key to feeling good and looking good. But when you are always on the move, finding a snack that meets your macronutrient and micronutrient needs can be challenging. 

Opting for healthy snacks from vending machines is not just a smart choice but also a convenient one. It allows you to stick to your diet, feel good about your choices, and maintain high energy levels throughout the day. By selecting protein-rich foods that are packed with antioxidants, nutrients, and vitamins, you can stay full until your next meal, even when you're on the move. 

Are Vending Machines Healthy?

While traditional vending machines may not have always offered healthy snacks, the tide is turning. As the world increasingly prioritizes health, fitness, and wellness, we're seeing a rise in healthier vending machines. Many gyms, shopping malls, and airports are now stocking more than just chips and cookies, offering a variety of healthier options. 

Which Vending Machine Snack is the Healthiest?

Protein bars are the healthiest vending machine snack, as they help keep you full, include other much-needed nutrients, and taste good in the process. Plus, you can choose between various protein bars with fluctuating levels of calories, fats, and carbs to meet your fitness goals. 

10 Healthy Snack Options From the Vending Machine

Dried Fruit 

Dried fruit is a great snack that is easy for an on-the-go option to boost your fiber, vitamin, mineral, and nutrient intake. Common dried fruits, like apricots, dates, prunes, or figs, can be preserved for an extended period and stay fresh in a vending machine.

One piece of dried fruit contains more than three times the fiber and vitamins of fresh fruit, making it an easy and quick way to pack a punch. Plus, dried fruits contain numerous antioxidants, which are great for helping your body fight free radicals and keep your immunity high. 

It's important to remember that even healthy snacks can contribute to excessive sugar intake if not consumed in moderation. To avoid this, keep your serving size small and follow the nutritional guidelines. 

Granola Bars 

Instead of reaching for a candy bar or a sugar-packed sweet treat from a vending machine, try a granola bar. They are a great source of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber, helping keep you full between meals without snacking on candy or cookies. The balance of protein, carbohydrates, and fats makes a well-rounded snack that helps keep you full, strengthen your muscles, and increase your metabolism. 

Since most granola bars are small, they range between 100 and 300 calories, making them a low-calorie option for eating between meals. They come in different flavors, with some containing sweet additions like chocolate and others including dried fruit. Look for a granola bar with higher fiber, lower sugar, and more protein than high-carb and high-fat alternatives. 

Some of the little-known benefits of granola bars include lower snacking, which can lead to fat loss, including healthy additions to a diet, such as oats and nuts, and providing a great source of beta-glucan, a helpful type of fiber that lowers LDL levels. 

Protein Bars 

Like granola bars, protein bars are healthy snacks that offer numerous benefits instead of candy bars or empty calories. Protein bars are not only convenient and taste great, but they also help you stay fuller for longer, build muscle, strengthen your bones, and provide additional nutrients. 

Protein bars typically have a balance of all macronutrients, making them a well-rounded snack or meal that is often times more filling than a smaller granola bar. Make sure you choose a protein bar for your goals, such as weight loss or muscle gain. 

Dark Chocolate Almonds

Some vending machines now include nuts or seeds with some type of coating or sweet addition, like dark chocolate-covered almonds. Almonds help reduce blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and reduce hunger, leaving less snacking and a greater chance of weight loss. Plus, dark chocolate is full of antioxidants and can help raise HDL and lower LDL in the body. 

Protein Drinks 

Protein drinks are convenient and easy drinks that taste like milkshakes and offer numerous health benefits that you won’t find in sodas, juices, water, or energy drinks. Protein drinks, like chocolate milk or protein shakes, have ample protein in the bottle, making them a great way to build muscle, keep you fuller for longer, and help maintain muscle mass in older adults. 

Plus, they can help you lose weight. Ingesting more protein helps nutrients travel around the body, ensuring you get the proper macronutrients and micronutrients during your daily life. Protein drinks encourage weight loss, promote muscle recovery in athletes, and improve gym performance. 

Trail Mix 

Trail mix is a convenient grab-and-go snack that offers variety, making it more exciting than a typical cracker, protein bar, or seeds. It often features dried fruits, mixed nuts, seeds, and sometimes sweets. To keep it lower-calorie and healthier, make sure you choose a trail mix with healthy fats and limited chocolate or additions. 

Beef Jerky 

Beef jerky or beef sticks are a new addition to vending machines that are great for meat lovers who want a high-protein snack without being sweet. Beef jerky is not only convenient but also chock full of protein and contains very few carbs, making it ideal for those who are on a paleo or low-carb diet. 

Keep an eye on the sugar on the packet to ensure you eat only the serving size and avoid too much sodium. 

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds are high in fiber and contain ample healthy fats, plant-based protein, and fiber. They help digestion and keep you full all day, ensuring you won’t snack on unhealthy candy bars. 

Non-Carbonated Juices 

Non-carbonated juices can be a quick and easy way to get more vitamins and minerals without eating too many snacks. They are convenient for on-the-go nutrition and can work for those with dietary restrictions or who are on a cleanse. 

Healthy Energy Drinks 

Instead of reaching for a soda or sugar-laden energy drink, try a healthier energy drink. Many healthy energy drinks contain ingredients like green tea and ginseng, which are natural energy boosters and can help give you the same buzz without a crash later on. 

Vending Machine Foods to Avoid

Numerous unhealthy vending machine snacks can derail your diet and give you the dreaded sugar crash later in the day. Some of the most infamous sugar-laden and fat-heavy snacks to avoid include chips, buttery crackers, soft drinks, cookies, sweets, pastries, candy bars, energy drinks, and biscuits. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, vending machine snacks don’t have to be unhealthy. They can be stocked with whole food items and protein-rich snacks that will keep you full until dinner. If you choose wisely next time you are on the go and need something to satisfy your hunger cravings, consider choosing a healthier alternative to chips and cookies.  

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you stock a healthy vending machine?

When stocking healthy vending machines, try to include healthy and tasty foods, such as dried fruit and granola bars. Having a selection of snacks gives the user more choices and makes them feel good about their options. 

What is the healthiest snack chip?

One of the healthiest snack chip options is Sun Chips, which contains ample whole grains, tons of fiber, and lower fat levels than traditional chips. 

How good is trail mix for you?

Compared to other alternatives, like cookies, sweets, and chips, trail mix is much healthier. Trail mix with dried fruit and no added sweets has protein, fats, and fiber.

Main image credit: Erik Mclean / Pexels

The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this article.