Vending+Machines+In+Cafeterias

By: Jessica Ganslaw

To have vending machines in school or to not have vending machines in school, that is the question. The debate over vending machines in school has been going on for quite some time now and there still has not been a clear decision that has been made. The article I found talks about that vending machines should definitely be allowed in school, although it does not contain the most healthy foods. Taking away vending machines does not give children to make healthy choices on their OWN. By exposing children to unhealthy snacks they will learn to willingly choose healthier foods for lunch instead of constantly buying unhealthy snacks. If the children were not exposed to unhealthy food they will probably go home and eat everything they were not "allowed" to have when they got home. School systems do know the consequences of too much soda and candy consumption: possibly heart disease, high cholesterol levels etc, obesity? Schools cannot fight the obesity epidemic on their own. Children do not become obese just because of the vending machines in school, fast food and other meals the children eat also needs to come into play. This is why, school systems should not force kids to eat healthy if they do not understand the situation, they should learn how to make healthy choices for themselves.

I really liked this article, it gave people a different perspective that most people do not really hear everyday. It is not the school's job to force children to make their own diet choices. Parents are mostly responsible for this. Yes, the schools should educate children about what they are eating but they should learn about the consequences they make and of the food they eat.

A. Colles (2002). //Should vending machines be allowed in school?// Retrieved from [].