Providing Healthier Vending Options
Vending machines may be the only food source a student may have at school, an employee may have at work, or the only option you may have at the mall, a rest stop, hospital, or even in a recreation center. 
Siouxland District Health Department (SDHD) Health Promotion staff have been working to increase the number of healthier options in vending machines throughout Woodbury County for many years in an effort to allow the consumer an opportunity to choose a healthier option.
Vending machines are assessed using the Nutrition Environment Measures Survey-Vending (NEMS-V) tool. A report with suggestions on how to increase the percent of healthier options is then presented to the entity housing the vending machines. The next step is to work with the vending company to replace some unhealthy options with healthier options and then identify those items with product pushers or stickers. A post-assessment is then completed to show a percent of improvement.
SDHD has worked in a variety of locations including CF Industries, MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center, Unity Point Health - St. Luke's, I-29 rest areas, and Long Lines Family Recreation Center.
For more information on adding healthier food and beverages to the machines at your facility contact your vendor.
If you are located within Woodbury County and are interested in having the NEMS-V assessment completed contact Angela Drent at email or call 712-279-6119.
