Food is fuel, but too much food leads to food comas. It is why everywhere around the world, efficiency takes a sharp tank just after lunch. Filling up on sandwiches and chips or fast food may be a short vacation from the troughs of work, but coming back many feel weighed down by the very food they used to fuel the rest of their day. Of course, it is unrealistic and dangerous to ask people to skip lunch, but people need to eat, or rather, they need to snack.
Filling snack foods have been around for centuries. Aperitvo in Italy, tapas in Spain, and so many other forms of snacking have been used to stimulate the appetite whilst working against the tendency for people to scarf down what is in front of them as if they have a time limit. Snacking in this way before a big meal can help with digestion and can be beneficial to people in the long term, especially for people's gut health. Obviously, this practice in the workplace wouldn't typically involve alcohol or the cured meats and gourmet cheeses one would find in Europe, but the practice can be the similar.
Hungry Americans, especially at the workplace, won't have access to the same opportunities for snacking as Europeans, but vending machines can provide an adequate substitution. They can provide an assortment of healthy snacks like granola bars or a variety of nuts, or can feed those less healthy cravings such as chips and sodas, all while not having to leave the building itself. Plus, in the event that you forgot your water bottle or simply want something else to quench your thirst, vending machines provide a multitude of options ranging from simple water to sports drinks to soda.
The vending machine is often overlooked as a source for quick sustenance, but they carry everything one needs to make it through the day before having to go home. In addition, vending machines can hold unconventional items like cigarettes or laundry items, making them even options to replace a grocery store run. Jefferson County, Texas is seeking bids from qualified vendors to provide term contract for snack and drink vending for the County. If interested in this opportunity, click on the link to learn more. The bid closes January 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM CT.