At McLean High School, vending machines are available around the building during limited times of the school day. With access restricted to lunch periods and after school, students often have few reliable options for food outside of their designated lunch periods.
Four out of five of McLean’s vending machines are located in the cafeteria and are open during lunch periods. The fifth vending machine is across from the lower gym in the red hallway and is only permitted for use during after school hours. Outside of these designated times, students can’t access the vending machines in the building.
“The machines aren’t actually available when people want to get food,” sophomore Dylan Munk said. “It doesn’t make sense that they are only open during lunch, when there’s already so many other food options.”
Due to the restricted access of vending machines at McLean, students have few food options during the rest of the school day.
“One time I had to retake my math test during my lunch period,” junior Sarah Winston said. “It took the entire period and since the vending machines were closed after [my test], I couldn’t get lunch that day.”
Even during the limited hours when vending machines are open, some students feel that they are usually empty or low stocked. This makes vending machines a less reliable option for students looking for a quick snack during lunch or throughout the school day.
“Even when I do want to get chips [from the vending machines] during lunch, they are usually empty,” Munk said.
After the school day, there is only one vending machine available in the building. This machine is frequently low on stock because it serves students involved in sports, clubs and other extracurricular activities who are looking for a quick snack before activities begin.
“The vending machine is the only place to get food after school and before practice,” freshman Maggie Bryant said. “But since so many people use it after school, it’s always empty.”
Even when the machine is fully stocked, the selection is limited to snacks such as baked chips, Rice Krispies treats, and Cheez-Its. While these options may work as a quick snack, some students involved in after school activities feel that they would benefit from choices such as granola bars, trail mix, protein bars or other healthier alternatives before practices and games.
“Most of the options are just chips or Rice Krispies treats, which aren’t really filling for a snack before a long practice,” Winston said. “I wish there were more filling and healthy snacks because those would be better for people who have sports right after school.”
Increasing the hours the vending machines are open would give students more consistent access to food outside of their designated lunch. Vending machines would be a more reliable option for quick snacks throughout the school day.
“Sometimes I just want to grab a snack during passing periods or before school,” Munk said. “I wish the vending machines were always open.”
With more consistent access and a wider variety of options, vending machines could better meet the needs of students looking for a quick snack between classes, after school or before practice.
“I think a lot more students would use [the vending machines] if they were open more often and had better options,” Winston said. “Right now, they’re just not something people can count on.”
