Healthy Snack Machines Coming to Countryside High

The push to get kids to eat healthier has been going on for years, with changes in school lunch menus and fast food fare plus Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative.

This week, one area school will jump on the trend in a big way, as Countryside High School will install six vending machines that specialize in providing healthy snacks on campus. 

Fresh Healthy Vending, a San Diego-based business that claims to be the leading healthy vending machine company in the United States, will install the machines at the Clearwater school on Friday morning.

“Improving access to healthy snack and beverage options is a huge step to enhancing the overall health of students and faculty at Countryside High School,” Matt Wicks, a local franchisee of the company, said in a statement. 

“By prioritizing healthy eating, Countryside High School serves as a great example for other high schools throughout the country.”

The snack and café machines sell healthy snacks and beverages, such as yogurts, smoothies, fruit, vegetables, granola bars, baked chips and natural sodas all at the touch of a button.

Countryside will receive five snack machines and one café machine in the teachers’ lounge, offering the faculty fresh gourmet coffee specialty drinks, including French vanilla lattes, cappuccinos, espressos and more.

Countryside principal Gary Schlereth expressed his feelings about the machines in a press release promoting the event.

“At Countryside High School, we believe strongly in promoting the importance of healthy eating to our students and staff,” he stated. 

“We are excited to offer students healthier snack and beverage options, and to offer our teachers gourmet specialty coffee to enjoy.” 

Wicks will be on hand to supervise the installation of the machines on Friday morning.

According to the release, Countryside High will make up part of the 1,700 such Fresh Healthy Vending locations across the country.