At schools, vending machines are becoming increasingly popular, but other options are available. Parents have busy lives and can use their convenience as a crutch. The decadent snacks inside can quickly lead to pediatric dental health issues.
Vending Machine Study
According to a recent study performed by the American Dental Association, 83% of snacks found in public school vending machines had minimal nutritional value. And, younger kids are the most likely to be influenced to purchase a snack. In addition, children who were offered fruits and vegetables for a snack were just as likely to eat them, as the sweets that were made available. For example, sugary snacks include:
- Cookies
- High sugar granola bars
- Snack cakes
- Candy
However, better options include:
- Diced peppers
- Carrot sticks
- Yogurt
- String cheese
In pediatric dental patients, healthy behavior patterns begin. Medplex Pediatric Dentistry recommends talking to your kids about the pitfalls of sugary drinks and snacks that are found in vending machines. Eating sweet snacks early can form bad habits. A healthy dental future begins early in childhood. Try to make your child healthy snacks to bring to school, so they don’t have to stop at the vending machine.