Smart Snacking (NAPSA)—Less than one prod- uct a week—that’s what a recent survey found children eat from vending machines. That may surprise some people who see vending machines as a culprit in the nation’s escalating rates of childhood obesity. Vending machines offer many smart snacking choices such as yogurt and fruit. That figure may also explain why removing vending machines is not the most effective way to combat childhood obesity. The answer lies in understanding the importance of a balanceddiet. To make a real difference, the National Automatic Merchandising Association has launched the Balanced for Life campaign, which teaches kids about making smart diet choices and being more physically active. The campaign includes such smart snacking tips as looking for balanced snack items, which vend- ing machines also carry, such as water, fruit juice, yogurt, granola bars, even salads andfreshfruits. For more information, visit www.balancedforlife.net.
