FROM OUTER SPACE, WE TURN TO YOUR OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD LETTERS FROM LAST WEEK! IT’S TIME TO OPEN OUR INBOX!
WE ASKED YOU TO TELL US WHAT YOU WOULD PUT IN YOUR HEALTHY VENDING MACHINE – AND ALLY FROM THE WESTMINSTER SCHOOLS IN ATLANTA HAD A DELICIOUS SUGGESTION, SHE WRITES: IF I COULD CREATE A HEALTHY VENDING MACHINE, IT WOULD INCLUDE ORGANIC FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. IT WOULD ALSO HAVE ITEMS LIKE GRILLED CHICKEN WRAPS AND LETTUCE WRAPS. IT WOULD ALSO CONTAIN SPRING WATER, SPARKLING WATER, AND FLAVORED WATER. THE FOODS COULD BE USED AS MEALS OR LITTLE SNACKS. THE MACHINE WOULD HELP STOP JUNK FOOD CRAVINGS BY HAVING THAT BE THE ONLY VENDING MACHINE IN A SCHOOL, RETAIL STORE, OR OFFICE.
KY’RELL FROM ELMHURST ELEMENTARY, SEEMS TO HAVE THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING, TELLING US:
IF I WERE TO ENGINEER A VENDING MACHINE IT WOULD BE "HEALTHY VENDIMACHINE"! OF COURSE YOU COULD HAVE DIFFERENT FLAVORED WATERS AND THERE WOULD BE A VARIETY OF "VEGGIE" SNACKS! I THINK THEY SHOULD BE PLACED IN SCHOOLS. BUT, AS AN ADDED BONUS, YOU COULD HAVE A SIDE OF GRILLED CHICKEN AND RICE! TO KEEP IT ALL FRESH, I WOULD DEVELOP A REFRIGERATING SYSTEM THAT RECOGNIZED IF THE POWER CUT OUT AND I WOULD HAVE A BATTERY BACK-UP OR GENERATOR ON STANDBY.
ELIZABETH FROM ST. MARY ELEMENTARY, WOULD MAKE A HEALTHY MACHINE FULL OF THE SWEET STUFF, WRITING:
IF I MADE A HEALTHY VENDING MACHINE I WOULD INCLUDE FRUIT SALADS BECAUSE IT WOULD LET MORE PEOPLE ADD MORE FRUIT TO THEIR DIET. I WOULD ALSO INCLUDE SMOOTHIES. IT WOULD GIVE PEOPLE SOMETHING HEALTHY AND TASTY.
LINDSEY HAD A GREAT IDEA FOR HER VENDING MACHINE, SHE WRITES:
IF I COULD MAKE A HEALTHY VENDING MACHINE IT WOULD HAVE A TOUCH SCREEN ON IT AND YOU WOULD MAKE YOUR OWN SALAD HOW EVER YOU WANT IT TO BE! WHEN YOU ARE DONE YOUR SALAD WOULD GET WEIGHED ON A SCALE AND THAT WOULD DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU WOULD PAY AND IF YOU WANTED WATER IT WOULD COST $1 MORE. LAST YOU WOULD EITHER PUT IN CASH OR PUT IN YOUR CREDIT CARD NOW YOU ARE DONE. SOMEDAY I WANT TO MAKE MY WISH COME TRUE BECAUSE MY FAVORITE FOOD SALAD SO I LOVE SALAD.
REIHANA FROM STRANAHAN ELEMENTARY HAD AN UNUSUAL SUGGESTION, BUT OFFERED PLENTY OF SUPPORTING EVIDENCE, TELLING US:
I WOULD PLACE MINTS IN MY VENDING MACHINE. I THINK THIS WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE ITEM IN A SCHOOL VENDING MACHINE. THERE COULD BE DIFFERENT TYPES SOFT, HARD, AND CHEWY. THIS WOULD BE IN MY MACHINE BECAUSE MINTS HELP THE MIND, DEFEAT HEADACHES, HELP THE BRAIN THINK, AND CALMS THE AMYGDALA. THIS HAPPENS BECAUSE WHILE YOU SUCK ON MINTS YOU BECOME CALMER. SO I WOULD PUT MINTS IN MY VENDING MACHINE.
THANKS REIHANA – AND THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO WROTE IN! WE’RE SO PROUD OF YOU ALL FOR THINKING HEALTHY – AND GETTING CREATIVE! I’LL ADMIT, MY MOUTH IS WATERING A BIT!