Parents Try Out LLA's Organic Vending Machine Choices

Parents curious about the snacks their children are eating during the school day at Loma Linda Academy (LLA) Jr. High got the chance earlier this month to try them out for themselves. During a parent/teacher meeting at the school on Nov. 7 the school's healthy snack food distributor, Acima Food Services' vending division, held a snack expo and invited parents to not only see, but also taste, the snacks - vegan and organic - their kids are eating. "We wanted parents to see and taste these snacks their kids are buying, and also for kids to try new brands. They taste just as good as any other snacks, just (with) less sodium and other junk," said Carlos Reis, a key account manager with Acima Food Services. The snack expo, the first the school has held, was "a way to let [parents] know we're hearing them," said LLA Jr. High Vice Principal Elizabeth Muñoz Beard. Heeding requests presented by parents and also LLA's desire to encourage a healthy lifestyle (the school also offers vegan lunches), LLA Jr. High began working with Acima in the 2011-2012 school year, explained Muñoz Beard. "It was progressive. It developed," she said. The decision to implement healthier snack options came from a "combination of being a health-conscious campus, parent input and the students' needs." Loma Linda is famous for its health consciousness, including the vegan diets of many residents and the prominence of the Loma Linda University Medical Center's influence, and the city is designated as one of the world's Blue Zones. "A majority of the parents work in the area, and are health-conscious or are health practitioners, and we wanted to work in their desire for their children to eat health-conscious snacks," said Muñoz Beard. Healthy vending machine choices include vegan and organic snacks by California snack companies including Lenny & Larry, Cool-Cups Gel, Snikiddy Snacks and BareFruit. Snacks include apple chips, vegan jellos and chips. This year, shared Muñoz Beard, Loma Linda Academy High School also began offering these healthier snack options. "Organic and natural snacks have come a long way," said Reis. "They taste good and have nutritional value. There was a time when health snacks were just trail mix and granola bars; well, times have changed." Getting the kids on board with the change wasn't a challenge, Muñoz Beard said. "We eased into the program. I haven't heard kids complaining, and I don't think there has been a significant impact as far as [decrease in snack sales]. They're pretty tasty - I've tried them myself."