Healthier options

The healthy-eating message is getting through to some kids.

Sixth-grader Sadie Dubay, who was standing at the only vending machine at the new state charter Palmetto Scholars Academy, knew exactly what she wanted and why. She slipped a dollar into a Yo Naturals vending machine, picked some Veggie Chips and explained her choice.

"I like Veggie Chips because other chips are greasy, are really bad for you and really don't taste that good," said Dubay, adding, "My dad has Type 2 diabetes and I don't want to get it."

If all kids were as forward thinking as Sadie, America might not be facing the national health care train wreck that many experts predict.

Piece of obesity puzzle

As another school year starts, many schools will start focusing on health with wellness councils -- faculty and parents who will find ways to improve and inspire health on campuses -- in an effort to help head off the crisis related to obesity.

Vending machines and what they tend to offer, cheap junk food, are part of that picture.

Changes already have taken place, largely by soft drink vendors who vow not to stock sugary soft drinks in machines, according to Walter Campbell, director of nutrition and food services for the Charleston County School District.

Food services, he adds, has nothing to do with vending, which is an issue between individual schools and food vendors.

Healthier options in vending may be on the verge of breaking into schools in the Charleston area.

David Carroll, an industrial supply businessman, bought the rights to Yo Naturals earlier this year as part of his new business, Mount Pleasant-based East Coast Organics. He started it after getting a health wake-up call himself: a diagnosis of prostate cancer last year.

"It made me think more about what we breathe and eat and drink," says Carroll, who has since been treated for his cancer. "I started eating differently and feeling better."

Like many, Carroll thinks the change has to start with kids because adults have bad habits that are hard to break.

"If we can teach kids that you can eat more healthy withoutsacrificing taste, that's a step in the right direction," says Carroll.

After only two months of trying to get Yo Naturals machines set up, Carroll has them at the Family Circle Cup Tennis Center, Jewish Community Center, some East Shore Athletic Clubs and two schools, Palmetto Scholars Academy and Porter-Gaud's high school.

He faces numerous challenges in taking on the business, from resistance of school administrators because of district contracts with soft drink companies (the Pepsi contract with the Charleston County district expires July 15, 2012) to getting kids to accept healthier vending options and making it work financially.

"One of the reasons the guys in the vending business are resistant to change is that they can buy a bag of chips for 20 cents and sell it for 65 cents. You can't do that selling healthy products, and they like that profit margin," says Carroll.

Healthier, not healthy

Carroll acknowledges that not all of his products are healthy because, to some degree, vending products have to be processed and packaged. But he thinks that most of the products are healthier than standard fare in machines.

He adds that he is still in the early stages of finding snacks that meet the key criteria of being healthy and tasting good.

Dr. Ann Kulze, a Charleston-based wellness expert and author of the new book "Eat Right for Life," gave a sample of products in the Yo Naturals machine at Palmetto Scholars Academy a mixed review (see accompanying box) and was particularly critical of "puffed" starch products because of the high glycemic index. However, she applauded Carroll for offering, generally, healthier options.

Kulze says a key to offering healthy snacks means following a few parameters: 200 calories or less, trans- fat free, less than 35 percent of the calories from sugar (exclude fresh fruit and dairy) and less than 35 percent of calories from fat (excluding nuts and seeds). She adds that another benchmark for carbohydrate snacks is having at least 3 grams of fiber.

"I certainly see healthy vending offerings as a simple and effective way to change the nutritional environment of schools," says Kulze, noting that snacking is inevitable and traditional snack foods in machines are devoid of nutrition. "Healthy snacks can bring in good stuff and shove out the bad stuff. ... If it's not there, it's not an option."

Gaining allies

Despite being in the early stages of the vending business, Carroll is gaining allies in his efforts to get machines into schools.

Wally Burbage saw the Yo Naturals machine at the Family Circle Tennis Center, where both he and Carroll play tennis. Burbage's daughter is a freshman at West Ashley High School, and he said he was shocked at the lack of healthy vending options at the school.

"I plan to talk to the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) about it," says Burbage.

For some principals, a vending machine with healthier options is the only op- tion.

Palmetto Scholars Academy Principal Steve Driscoll says he doesn't plan to put another vending machine at the school because nutrition is a key component of the school's physical education program.

"The vending machine is a downfall of many a good diet," says Driscoll. "There are things you won't find at home that you'll find in a vending machine."

Reach David Quick at dquick@postandcourier.com or 937-5516.

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