College of DuPage has 109 vending machines throughout campus featuring food and drink that you can grab on the go. These snacks range from the ever popular Cheetos and Sun Chips to new, more healthier options such as fresh fruit and granola bars.

COD is a campus made up of thousands of students, some who are here for more than 8 hours a day. In that time one gets hungry and looks for not only a cheap option, but a healthier one among the many fast yet unhealthy choices out there.

The cafeteria on campus has hundreds of different options, but when students are lacking time or proximity, they turn to the next best option: vending machines.

The idea behind vending machines has always been providing unhealthy foods that you choose because they’re easy. COD’s Dining Services Advisory Committee (DSAC) is a committee dedicated to discussing the different types of food sold at COD and what people want.

In a more recent meeting, the committee requested that healthier choices be an option for consumers. Administrative Assistant for COD’s Business Affairs Laura Weiland stated that COD is not trying to push healthy options, but rather provide what has been requested.

“The school is not trying to regulate, rather we are listening to what students, faculty and staff are asking for,” Weiland said. “The [DASC] meets monthly to discuss issues concerning Dining Services and vending. There are representatives from every constituency group on the committee bringing forward comments from their respective group. There was an overwhelming request asking that we look into healthier options, not only in the Café but also in the vending machines.”

The vending machines are split into three levels of healthy, red being the worst for you, yellow being moderately healthy, and green being the best option in that machine. COD freshman Clara McIntyre feels that these healthy options are important, but don’t make her feel as if she has to choose the healthiest options available.

“I think it’s good to have a wide variety of all sorts of foods because then there is something for everyone depending on their mood,” McIntyre said.

The machines are carefully stocked with not only some healthier options, but with more popular items. The machines are taken care of by companies like Ace and Pepsi and expiration dates are looked at carefully for quality assurance.

“Because of the size of the campus and the volume of consumption, Ace and Pepsi are constantly stocking the machines,” Weiland said. “The drivers watch what sells and what doesn’t sell as fast. If they find that a particular item sells out quickly, they may decide to put another row of that particular item.”

The best sellers on COD’s campus are chips, Cheetos, Sun Chips, water, unsweetened drinks and Gatorade. Many of these snacks are found on the red line. The green line or the healthiest options available, like apples, granola bars and low calorie snack packs, are not being chosen as often by students. McIntyre explains that for her, when she wants something, she’s going to buy what she wants, even if it’s not the healthiest option.

“I don’t care what types of options I have around me,” McIntyre said. “When I know I want a certain snack, I want that snack. It doesn’t matter what it is or if it’s unhealthy, that’s the one I want.”

While some students are happy to have these healthier options, Weiland states that some may feel guilty when choosing from the unhealthy, red lined portion of the machine. Weiland states that these options are not put in place to make consumers feel guilty.

“While some are thrilled that they have healthier options, others have felt guilty by choosing a product off the red shelf,” Weiland said. “The premise is not to make the consumer feel guilty, rather it is to inform them about all the options that are available.”