16 Jul Healthy Snack Alternatives in the San Francisco Bay Area
Are you ever in the mood for a snack that is salty and crunchy, but want it to be a healthy choice? If you are, there are a lot of new healthy options available that were on exhibit at the 2018 NAMA (National Automatic Merchandising Association) Show. Attending vending operators sought out better-for-you products that could help San Francisco Bay Area employees meet their health and wellness goals.
In addition to chips made from wheat alternatives and vegetables, there were several other themes that appeared. Low or no-sugar beverages, energy drinks, and beverages made with superfood ingredients such as matcha, naturally occurring antioxidants, and protein topped the list. But, let’s go back to that craving for a salty and crunchy snack.
Instead of only finding the traditional potato chip in your San Francisco Bay Area office break room vending machine, there are now chips made with brown rice, quinoa, hummus, and lentils. Each one of those ingredients offers a different flavor as well as the following health benefits.
Brown Rice
- High in Fiber
- Contains: manganese, antioxidants, lecithin, magnesium, and selenium
- Benefits: helps convert food into energy, protects from free radicals, digests slowly which keeps blood sugar levels stable during digestion, has anti-inflammatory properties
Quinoa
High-Quality Protein- High in Fiber
- Gluten-Free
- Contains: nine essential amino acids, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, folate, copper, iron, zinc, potassium, B vitamins, calcium, vitamin E, and multiple antioxidants
- Benefits: super nutritious, works well to control blood sugar, lowers cholesterol, and contains anti-inflammatory properties
Hummus
- Made with mashed chickpea, tahini, oil, lemon juice, and garlic
- High in Fiber
- Contains: protein, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, isoflavones (antioxidants), minerals, and vegetable-based iron
- Benefits: helps maintain blood sugar levels; decreases risk of some cancers; lowers bad cholesterol; decreases the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes; and reduces likelihood of blood clots
Lentils
- High-quality Protein
- High in Fiber
- Contains: magnesium, iron, folate, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamin B1
- Benefits: strengthens and repairs muscles; battles fatigue, stress, and mood swings; prevents heart disease and lowers cholesterol; improves blood circulation; aids in and slows digestion; maintains blood sugar levels; and reduces the risk of some cancers
With so many healthy crunchy snack options, your San Francisco Bay Area employees can choose what they think tastes best. Don’t forget to offer them healthy beverages such as bottled water, iced tea, and carbonated mineral water to enjoy with their snack. To learn more about providing healthy snack and beverage options, call PVS Refreshments at 844.527.4800. We look forward to hearing from you.