When hunger hits you on the road, a vending machine may be your only option. While convenient and inexpensive, vending machine choices can be high in calories and saturated fat. Fortunately, there are four healthy snacks from vending machines that are actually good for you.
Nuts
Many vending machine offer healthy nuts like almonds, walnuts and peanuts. Nuts are a natural source of nutrients, like magnesium, protein, dietary fiber and vitamin E. While high in total fat, nuts are low in saturated fat and 100 percent trans fat free. Regularly consuming nuts can help reduce your risk of heart disease, reports the November 1998 issue of the "British Journal of Nutrition." In this study of more than 1,200 women, it was found that eating at least 5 oz. of nuts per week reduced heart disease risk by 45 percent. If possible, choose vending machine nuts that don't have added far or sodium.
Whole-Grain Chips
Whole grain baked chips, like Sunchips, are a low-fat, fiber-rich alternative to traditional chips. When choosing your chip, keep an eye out for the "Whole Grain" stamp, which signifies that the product is at least 50 percent whole grain. Frequent whole grain consumption is associated with a decreased risk of stroke, heart attack and diabetes, the Whole Grains Council states.
Reduced-Fat Popcorn
Reduced-fat popcorn is another whole grain option that's considerably higher in fiber than most other vending machine snacks. Eating fiber can help curb appetite and reduce Type 2 diabetes risk, MayoClinic.com states. A vending machine-size 2 oz. serving of low-fat popcorn contains 8 g of fiber.
Chewing Gum
Sugar free chewing gum is often found at the bottom of vending machines. Putting gum at the top of your vending machine snack list can help reduce your appetite and help you lose weight, the May 2007 issue of "Appetite" states. In this study, volunteers that chewed gum before a buffet lunch ate less than those that didn't chew gum. Additional chewing gum benefits include a reduced incidence of dental caries and improvements in focus and concentration.
References
- "British Medical Journal"; Frequent Nut Consumption and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Women: Prospective Cohort Study; Frank B. Hu, et al.; November 1998
- Whole Grains Council: What Are the Health Benefits?
- USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference: Release 16
- MayoClinic.com; Dietary Fiber: Essential for a Healthy Diet; November 2009
- "Apppetite"; Short-Term Effects of Chewing Gum on Snack Intake and Appetite; Marion M. Hetherington, et al,; May 2007
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