Zoe Chakraborty (9) | STAFF REPORTER
Vending machines are a truly joyous addition to our schools. Just a glance at a vending machine is enough to brighten our day. They hold a golden treasure – snacks! Grabbing a quick snack between classes can help boost our mood and energy. Vending machines are beneficial to students at school and their design allows moderation of eating unhealthy food.
A concern may be that vending machines may worsen unhealthy habits of buying junk food. However, vending machines can have both unhealthy and healthy food and it is at the prerogative of students to buy what type of food they want. They might decide to alternate and get both kinds each time they purchase a good from the vending machine.
Plus, as you have to pay for your snack, students will learn financial skills and save money responsibly. It will teach students to eat in moderation and not spend impulsively as while the temptation of junk food or snacks is great, students will be forced to think about their purchase. Eventually, they will learn to plan ahead and understand when to withdraw and not purchase and when to actually spend money.
Students will also benefit more from a vending machine than even from the cafeteria. Students are more likely to opt to save their money by buying select items from a vending machine instead of buying their whole lunch from the cafeteria. This provides an option for those who don’t buy from the cafeteria to purchase food in the school, while spending less money. Not only are vending machines are likely cheaper, they can provide small snacks that are often unavailable in cafeterias as a quick ‘pick-me up’ that can be really helpful for exhausted students.
Vending machines bring no harm to the school environment; in fact, they have a lot of benefits.
