We live in a relatively fast-paced world; homework needs to be done and money needs to be earned. This may seem obvious, but it can be difficult to perform these daily activities when munching on chemically-fabricated snack bag goodies and operating on minimal hours of restless sleep. So, because of the morning rush of finishing homework before first hour and hustling into the school to grab a snack from the vending machine, the rest of the day sleepily unfolds. Then comes the headache.

Prior to threading Mr. Washington into the vending machine, the customer makes a decision. This could range from the way the M&M package looks or the thought of ripping open a bag of Dorito chips. Sounds of crunching; the way the powdery cheese seamlessly melts into the tongue; suddenly the thought of putting the bag down seems unrealistic. Why is this?

Senior Dani Cohen says “I think the vending machines are horrible because the snacks they offer are bad for you.” Right off the bat, Frito-Lay genetically modifies their products; meaning the corn used in the product is altered to grow faster and unnaturally resist pests. She continues with, “Vending machines should offer healthier choices.”

Currently, well-known brands such as Doritos, Cheetos, Sun Chips and Miss Vick’s Potato Chips, all products of the big-food company Frito-Lay are well represented in the vending machines. Why? Majority rules: they are cheap, fast, and taste good. Theses salty snacks are loaded with artificial additives and preservatives which is what makes them appealing; however, there is absolutely nothing appealing about monosodium glutamate.

Considered to be one of the most deadly food additives, MSG has been reported to cause heart palpitations, nerve damage, and migraine headaches. MSG was originally added to foods to enhance flavor, but it also causes a micro-addiction. For a time period, the body will want more of whatever is coated in the substance, which is the reason Doritos are darn-hard to put down. On the other hand, the body can easily digest the naturally occurring glutamate found in mushrooms, tomatoes, and cheese. This is not the case with MSG.

Senior Athena Arayo-Brito says, “Vending machines are very convenient for people who just need a quick snack.” Our pay-and-display attitude is more of a pay-by-display mindset: if food looks good – and tastes good – we are going to eat it. However, the vending machines, as well as the average modern consumers’ attitude, have changed and should continue to change. Products such as KIND Bars, Cliff Bars, and Pop Chips minimally but noticeably line the shelves. Although these realistically healthy alternatives are bumped up in price, their ingredient quality is bumped up too. Today, many young adults fork over the bills for the non-GMO option instead of settling for less, both with what comes out of their pocket and what goes into their stomachs.

Olympic Heights math teacher Mr. Moore says, “Healthier food should be in the vending machines, for sure.” For a class game of Kahoot – a game played via a mobile device – Moore brought in KIND Bars and other healthy snacks to reward the winners. Instead of candy or chips, KIND Bars offer beneficial nutrients and taste good. And, leading back to the “modern customer” idea, Moore has this one calculated out perfectly.

All in all, a snack is a snack. What will subside is our attention span, not our hunger. Paying attention in class is totally based around what we consume. For a strong metabolism, have breakfast. Athletes know this and live by it. Just scrambled eggs and an apple at home or a Cliff Bar with water from the vending machine will wake up a sleepy head. Additionally, eat every few hours. Having three square meals may seem reasonable, but the body is constantly burning calories, even while sleeping! Snack between classes on carrot sticks, home-squeezed juice, or Pop Chips with water from the vending machine. We are sitting the majority of the day. Stand up for something once in a while, even if it’s simply what snack Mr. Washington is buying next.