SAN DIEGO, Aug. 28, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fresh Healthy Vending, the leading healthy vending machine company in the United States, is challenging parents to demand fresher, healthier choices and to investigate the politics behind how the food choices are made in their children's schools.
According to a Pediatrics Digest survey, almost half of all public elementary schools and about 80 percent of public high schools operated under "pouring rights" contracts, meaning schools were signing exclusivity contracts with soda makers to receive funds to subsidize school lunch budgets and other aspects of schooling. While the schools receive additional funds to support their initiatives, the contracts come at another cost: students' health.
A study by the University of Illinois researchers found that students in states that limit in-school junk food sales gained an average of 0.44 fewer body mass index units (about 2.25 fewer pounds) than students in states with no policies.
"The rate of childhood obesity is considered to be triple what it was a generation ago, and a part of it is due to the accessibility of junk food to children," said Dan Negroni, CEO of Fresh Healthy Vending. "Schools that offer junky snack food and sugary sodas to our students are a part of the problem. Our mission is to be a part of the solution in fighting childhood obesity by offering fresh, healthy snack and beverage options to students. We are also challenging parents to be a part of the solution by demanding healthy choices for their children at schools."
Fresh Healthy Vending touts its vending products as a means to keep minds and bodies in better shape. Their mission is to help eliminate junk food, which is associated with causing obesity, higher absenteeism and higher medical insurance rates.
"It's disappointing to see students being marketed to with less-than-healthy choices while they are at school, but we're optimistic that giving students the options and education on food can help," said Negroni. "We know that students and parents understand the importance of healthy eating, and it's our mission to provide healthier options."
For more information about coordinating a Fresh Healthy machine in your community's school, please visit http://www.freshandhealthy.org/
About Fresh Healthy Vending
Fresh Healthy Vending is the first and largest franchisor of healthy vending machines, providing all-natural drinks, snacks and gourmet coffee to thousands of locations around the country. Fresh Healthy Vending's quest is to help the world become healthier by providing more nutritious and wholesome snacks and drinks through vending machines. Capitalizing on the growing demand for both healthy snacking and organic coffee, two of the fastest growing consumer segments in the world, Fresh Healthy Vending is an expert in creating profitable vending businesses for franchisees. For more information about becoming a Fresh Healthy Vending franchisee, visit www.freshvending.com. To demand healthy choices and inquire about receiving a free Fresh Healthy Vending machine where you work, live or play, visit www.freshandhealthy.org.
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