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Aiming to mirror their mission “to help people live the healthiest lives possible”, Intermountain Healthcare is removing all sugary beverages, candies and less healthy snacks from it’s vending machines.
Many nationwide health systems have also adopted similar policies including, Mayo Clinic and Kaiser Permanente.
From March 1st of this year, snacks that have added sugars, salts, and saturated fats will all now be banned from vending machines, with new healthier food options based on nutrition and dietary guidelines.
Since 2014, the hospital has been working to create healthier food environments, with cafeterias that offer healthy plates, and messages about eating healthier and being active.
Over 100,000 people in Utah and Southern Idaho are living with prediabetes, stated St. George News, with 90% not knowing they have it, which can lead to full-on type 2 diabetes, and higher risks of heart attack or stroke.
Reducing added sugars, salts and unhealthy fats along with sugary beverages in corporate or store vending machines can help create a healthier food and beverage environment for all, and may possibly reduce chronic health risks.
Many cities have even set standards for healthier food environments, changing vending to promote or display healthier options, like in Baltimore, Seattle, San Francisco, Fayetteville, and New Orleans.
More is still needing to be done in small communities, in large corporations, and in schools to encourage healthier food environments, with more healthier options, like fruits, nuts and drinks without sugars, and fewer junk foods like sodas, candies, and chips.
Learn more about how you can help take action to create healthier food environments in schools and communities by clicking, here.
By The Numbers
74
percent
of Latino kids have had a sugary drink by age 2 (vs. 45% of white kids)
