Fresh Healthy Vending Pledges $1,000,000 in Grants

(PRWEB) May 01, 2013

Fresh Healthy Vending, the Nations largest healthy vending company has dedicated $ 1,000,000 in grants to qualified locations that choose to provide a healthy vending option. On behalf of its huge network of Franchisees, the Fresh and Healthy Vending Initiative was founded to help communities combat the junk food and obesity epidemic. To encourage communities to get on the bandwagon, the company created FreshandHealthy.org. The website is specifically designed to encourage eligible locations such as schools, YMCAs and businesses to sign up for a free healthy vending machine. The company also offers additional monthly financial incentives to install the healthy machines that provide nutritious food and beverage choices.

Fresh Healthy Vendings Chief Wellness Advocate, Michelle Valency says, We approach each location with the same simple set of requests. 1. Do your employees, students, customers deserve a healthy choice when it comes to snacking? 2. Are you ready to take the initiative and help us combat the obesity epidemic that plagues our nation? 3. Would you be prepared at the very least to let us place a healthy vending machine next to the machines you already have that offer junk, giving people the option to choose?

Vending machine snacks and beverages constitute a significant portion of the average Americans diet. At school, work, or in the community, the convenience of quick and affordable sustenance through traditional vending is often within reach and dependence has increased in recent years. The Fresh and Healthy Vending was established to lessen the amount of harmful foods available and provide healthy substitutes.

In less than 2 years, FreshandHealthy.Org has been succesfull in placing 1300 Fresh Healthy Vending machines in schools across 46 states. The initiative claims a further 900 Fresh Healthy Vending machines have been installed in various businesses, retailers and community centers such as YMCAs, JCCs and Boys and Girls Clubs. The company has also donated over $ 300,000 in incentives to date not including the commission checks its franchisees pay to the locations each month. We believe healthy choices dont have to be an inconvenience, all we are looking for is like-minded decision makers to take some iniative in the locations we target says Valency.

The bad news: obese and overweight children are at risk for serious health problems.

Diabetes is on the rise. The rise in childhood obesity is linked to a dramatic rise in the number of children that are suffering from type 2 diabetes. African-American and Hispanic children are developing type 2 diabetes at a much higher rate than their Caucasian peers; almost half are at risk of developing diabetes.

Asthma risk is higher than ever. There may be a link between the rise in childhood obesity and the rise in childhood asthma. Extra weight can make it hard to breathe and can inflame the respiratory tract. Children with serious asthma are more likely to be overweight.

Increased risk of heart failure. Being overweight or out-of-shape makes the heart work harder. Overweight children are more likely to grow up to be overweight adults and more likely to develop heart problems.

Access to healthy food and physical activity is disappearing. Poor nutrition is part of daily life: only about 20 percent of high school seniors report eating fruit and green vegetables five or more times a day.

Unregulated nutrition: foods offered in school vending machines often have little nutritional value and can be loaded with fats, sugars, salt and calories.

Less physical education: 92% of elementary schools do not have daily physical education classes year-round.

The good news: Fresh Healthy Vending, along with their franchisees, is fighting the obesity epidemic one healthy, delicious, convenient snack at a time via its huge Franchise network.

Fresh Healthy Vending machines are in thousands of locations throughout the country providing healthy snack food and beverage choices. Healthy kids are the future, keeping minds and bodies in better shape are part of the directives for Fresh Healthy Vending, the first and largest franchisor of healthy vending machines. Fresh Healthy Vendings quest is to help Americans become healthier by providing more nutritious and wholesome snacks and drinks purchased through vending machines.

For more information about Fresh Healthy Vending Franchises, visit http://www.freshvending.com. To inquire about receiving a free Fresh Healthy Vending machine where you work, live or play or attend school, visit http://www.freshandhealthy.org or call toll free 888-902-7558.