Diet Dangers.

     With the new upcoming technology, America is finding ways to make everything a little more convenient. Most fast food restaurants are open late, or 24 hours, which makes late night eating easier than ever. Once cupcake vendor in Beverly Hills is so popular, that her customers are demanding longer business hours, but her staff is too short. Her solution to this problem is a cupcake vending machine! Sounds cool, right? The vending machine is baby pink, and very eye appealing. It contains fresh boxed cupcakes, and a robot arm picks it up, and dispenses it to you. The cupcakes are running four dollars a box, while the instore price is $3.25 for a cupcake without the box. This makes it easy for people to stop by and get a cupcake after dinner, or late at night, which is the worst time to binge eat, on empty calories. See an article about the cupcake vendor here. Why is eating late at night unhealth, you ask? See why here. Americans spend $21 billion on food and drinks from vending machines. While, most of the vending snacks are unhealthy to eat, there are some that are nutritional and good for you. The average American works about eight to ten hours a day and, according to food-services giant Aramark about 15% of workers don't even have time to take a lunch break. For them, the vending machine is a straight shot down the hall, and the snacks inside it are usually fattening and not so healthy--that is until recently.

    In January 2005, the National Automatic Merchandising Association started a million-dollar campaign called "Balanced for Life." It highlights the need for a balanced diet and fitness, and starting January 2006, will focus on nutrition in the workplace--where vending sales are highest. According to NAMA, a large part of the campaign is to encourage vending and snack food leaders to develop healthier choices, which, so far, seems to be working. Already, calorie-conscious consumers can find nutrition bars and baked Lays, or Cheetos.  These programs give consumers more variety when it comes to choosing snacks and beverages, while keeping items like the number one selling Snickers bar. See which vending machine snacks are healthy and not healthy. By reading health articles shown here, you can become aware of what you are putting into your body, and start making better decisions for your health.