Vending machines are notorious for junk food. But at the Rosenblatt High School at the Donna Klein Jewish Academy, students are slipping their dollar bills in for healthy snacks.
“I looked at some of the items and they looked appealing. I’m an athlete and a healthy lifestyle is something I’ve lived my entire life,” said Taytum Orshan, a junior at Rosenblatt.
The “Fresh Healthy Vending” machine was installed Friday at the west Boca Raton campus. Melissa Starr just landed the local franchise rights for the vending machine that’s growing in popularity nationwide.
“The products that you find in our machines are organic and low fat, like smoothies, no high fructose, corn syrup or hidrogenated oil. Organic snacks, fruits and vegetables,” said Starr.
Experts say junk food found in traditional vending machines can lead to not only obesity, but higher school absenteeism and higher medical insurance rates.
“It’s more than the influence we have in school, but hopefully they will go to the grocery store and say I like that chip and try that one,” said Rosenblatt Principal Helena Levine.
All of the items in themachine are also Kosher. Starr has installed them not only in schools, but at hospitals and country clubs.
But what do some of the most discerning food critics think about these unconventional snacks?
“I think it’s great. Last week I bought a 3 musketeers bar and I was thinking while at basketball practice, why am I running all these laps and I just ate a 3 musketeers bar earlier,” said Daniel Katz, a senior at the school.
Getting kids to think healthy thanks to a vending machine.
Melissa Starr says she has received so many inquiries on the “Fresh Healthy Vending” machines, that she expects to have them in 80 locations in the near future.





