Why more vending machines should be at Boward college

According to research, vending machines have developed into some of the best food points for comfort and low-cost access to quality food. At Broward College, there is no understanding of the importance of making more vending machines available for student use. Notably, the number of commuting students is increasingly growing, prompting the administration and community to be worried about food services and student services on campus. Indeed, the administration's aim should be to provide nutritious food facilities to these commuting students by developing more vending machine points (Suarez-Balcazar et al. 337). However, the vending machines have been placed at fewer points within the school without the administration understanding that increasing the number of vending machines ultimately reduces the time spent by the students moving from one restaurant to the next while trying to acquire lunch before they go back to their classes. For instance, the school has placed the vending machines next to the cafeteria and not at most of other points like next to the library, lecture theaters, and consultation offices. Having vending machines at these points is necessary to reduce the time wasted in searching for the snack or a drink. Besides, the administration has been misled by the misconception that the vending machines encourage poor eating habits and hence they should be minimized within the school to improve the eating habits of the commuter students. However, the misconception is misleading the administration and the welfare department since the vending machines can and do provide the students with dietary options compared to the students getting their snacks from outside the school where the sellers may only be interested in money and not the health of the students. The fewer the number of the vending machines there is at Broward, the higher the likelihood for the students opting for more unhealthy options. In the long run, the students will waste more time than necessary, the time that would have been used for research. Besides, the fast foods that will be acquired from other food points will contribute to obesity and diabetes because the students will be in a hurry and therefore will accept anything available (Wiecha et al. 1625). To present this, Broward College should have more vending machines so that the students save the time while ensuring that the students are being offered healthier options and prevent obesity.

Analysis

Having fewer or no vending machines at the college is a clear indication that the students will have to waste much time waiting at the few vending machines where most of the students queue during their lunch hour. Besides, the school is currently reporting gradually increasing cases of obesity. The increase in the number of students diagnosed to be gaining weight implies that the students are opting for fast foods at the nearby restaurants for faster service compared to queuing for their snacks at the available vending machine (Suarez-Balcazar et al. 340). Thus, it can be observed that the student welfare department in collaboration with the college administration should provide more vending machines within the school to prevent students from going for their snacks from outside the school. In the 2016 school statistics, it was indicated that the performance of the commuter students had reduced significantly. Considering the some that the students tend to waste during their lunch break, it can be seen that the lack of adequate vending machines is preventing the students from engaging in constructive research and discussion which would contribute to the students performing better.

To resolve the problem, the Broward College has instituted various cafeteria and student service centers within the campus to offer alternative options to the commuter students to reduce the congestion at the few vending machines available within the school. Providing a few vending machines for the students can be seen to be an attempt to resolve the time wastage problem at the college. However, it is to be noted that the cafeterias that have been opened are providing the students with fast foods that are full of sugar and high calories that are enhancing the development of overweight among the students (Price, Judy, and Bradene 308). Also, the cost of the snacks at the student centers are relatively high compared to the ability of the students. As a result, the students are ending up spending more money than they are provided with leading to dependence on their colleagues and at times the students have to lie to their parents so that they can raise the money to purchase their lunch at school. Under peculiar circumstances, the students have restructured the food points to be perceived as a luxurious center where only those with enough money can afford. Increasing the costs of the products, therefore, is contributing to those students who cannot afford a good meal at the cafeteria to feel embarrassed and therefore become stigmatized which impacts negatively on their performance (Park et al. 1532). Hence, it can be established that the efforts being put in place by the college are not helping, but rather, they are contributing to poor performance and social stigmatization amongst the students.

As a resolution to the ever increasing challenge of the students having less time within the school for research, the college should opt for providing more vending machines for the service of the students. Setting up enough vending machines within the college will ensure that the students can access the food points on time and get served within the shortest time (Park et al. 1534). Studies indicate that the students being served at a vending machine will receive the services within seconds compared to being served at a cafeteria. Besides, the students can make choices about what they would have for their lunch before the time since the machine indicates what is available compared to the cafeteria, and food joints where one only gets to know that the place does not have what they need after getting there. Hence, the convenience reduces the time wasted by the students in queuing at food joints for lunch. The time saved is then used for research and engaging in scholarly discussions with peers at the college.

Moreover, providing adequate vending machine will reduce the overdependence on the fewer food points and therefore reduce the food prices. Besides, since the college students are provided with little money by their parents to cater for lunch, the vending machines also offer the affordable products at no extra charges for services offered like it is the case with cafeterias (Park et al. 1533). Consequently, since the students will be getting the food from the same place as everyone else, the status of the students will be relatively equal and hence prevent the problem of some feeling superior over others for affording fancy foods.

Owing to the increasing global awareness concerning obesity, vending machines will provide an excellent alternative to resolving diabetes and obesity problems. For instance, the vending machines offer healthy snacks for the students after being sorted by specialists to ensure that the students can get dietary products (Rovner et al. 15). Presently, the vending machines offer such fruits as grapes and apples that are nutritious for the students as supplements besides providing the students with the energy to propel them throughout the day before they go back home and have full course meals. Besides, the drinks and snacks are labeled so that the students can easily understand the level of sugar contained in the food and since the students are always in a hurry and active, they tend to burn the sugars easily and remain healthy.

On the contrary, it has been argued that the vending machines promote laziness among the students which contribute to students gaining extra weight in the process. For decades, the vending machines have been presumed to be stuffed with junk food that had too many calories and therefore not suitable for the students (Price, Judy, and Bradene 307). However, it has to be observed that having more vending machines at the college offers a better alternative for resolving the weight problem. For instance, the vending machines are filled with trail mixes and healthy food options that are offered at any other food joint that the people might consider being healthy. The choice to purchase a soda or chips lies with the buyer, and therefore, the food choice cannot be blamed on the vending machine but the buyers. Hence, offering more vending machines at the college will make sure that the students have a variety to choose from and therefore helping in saving money while resolving the obesity menace (Rovner et al. 13).

Conclusion

Conclusively, setting up more machines at Broward College will ensure convenience in the service delivery to the commuter students during their lunch breaks. Saving on the time wasted at such points ensures that the students remain with adequate time for their assignments, class discussions, and research, and hence maximizing the benefits of their time while at the college. It can be recommended that the school ensures that the students are provided with enough vending machines to reduce congestion and time wastage (Park et al. 1532). Besides, the lesser the vending machines, the higher the risk of the students going outside the school to get their lunch. As a result, the school runs the risk of the students’ performance being affected since they do not have enough time for study while at school. Furthermore, the commuter students being in a hurry, there is a possibility that they will purchase any snack available at the cafeteria if the vending machines are not availed and therefore, that increases the chances of becoming overweight because of the high calories contained in the snacks from the food joints outside the school.

Works Cited

Park, Sohyun, et al. "The impact of the availability of school vending machines on eating behavior during lunch: the Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey." Journal of the American dietetic association 110.10 (2010): 1532-1536.

Price, James H., Judy Murnan, and Bradene Moore. "Soft drink vending machines in schools: a clear and present danger." American Journal of Health Education 37.5 (2006): 306-314.

Rovner, Alisha J., et al. "Food sold in school vending machines is associated with overall student dietary intake." Journal of adolescent health 48.1 (2011): 13-19.

Suarez-Balcazar, Yolanda, et al. "Introducing systems change in the schools: the case of school luncheons and vending machines." American Journal of Community Psychology 39.3-4 (2007): 335-345.

Wiecha, Jean L., et al. "School vending machine use and fast-food restaurant use are associated with sugar-sweetened beverage intake in youth." Journal of the American Dietetic Association 106.10 (2006): 1624-1630.