Fort Lauderdale company offers alternative to lunch lines in Broward schools (Vending machines)

The South Florida Sun Sentinel ^ | August 27, 2013 | Miriam Valverde

[2ndDivisionVet]

Viviana Sanchez surveyed the long lunch line at Northeast High School last week and pondered her options. And she was glad she had options. Instead of waiting forever in the cafeteria line for a less-than-appetizing meal, the sophomore strolled over to a vending machine and had her lunch within seconds.

"I like this better," Sanchez said last Thursday after pulling out a yogurt parfait and chocolate milk from Star Food Healthy Express machine. "This tastes better and it's quicker to get."

The Oakland Park school is one of about 40 middle schools and high schools within the Broward County Public Schools system that have vending machines distributed by Fort Lauderdale-based VE South in their cafeterias. The local company began with just two Broward high schools January 2012, but has been growing rapidly ever since.

The vending machines serve as an alternative to getting lunch from cafeteria staff, said Joe Gilbert, vice president and general manager of VE South. They save time in a student's busy day, and provide a healthier alternative, he said.

Unlike most traditional vending machines, the Star Food Healthy machines in schools don't take money in exchange for food. Each student has his or her own code number and the machines are programmed to know if a student is eligible for free or discounted meals.

If a student's lunch or breakfast is free at the caferia line, then it's also free at the machine. Students who pay a reduced or full amount just need to make sure there's enough money in their meal accounts.

VE South began supplying schools with reimbursable vending machines about seven years ago, and now generate sales in the "low to mid seven figures annually,"(continued)

[2ndDivisionVet]

Any you're paying for it.

[mylife]

Could Mom bother to pack a lunch?

[mylife]

Alienate the kids, disrespect the father, and pony up money.

Here’s yer McLunchables in a machine.

[Moonman62]

Could Mom bother to pack a lunch?

That isn't free.

[mylife]

Neither is this.

[Moonman62]

Instead of waiting forever in the cafeteria line for a less-than-appetizing meal,

A Michelle-meal.

[mylife]

Gosh I wish I had a free Yogurt parfait /s

[Moonman62]

Unlike most traditional vending machines, the Star Food Healthy machines in schools don't take money in exchange for food. Each student has his or her own code number and the machines are programmed to know if a student is eligible for free or discounted meals.

At Northeast HS they are all on free meals.

[2ndDivisionVet]

“Mom” is probably out katting around, asleep from her pipe or still at work at the strip club. Also, a lot of schools don’t allow students to bring meals from home.

[skinkinthegrass]

who dat?...
really the government school system is all things to all the students
...mom/dad/wet nurse..except the bed, but give 'em time.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Read the article, yes it is, in many cases.

[rawhide]

yogurt parfait and chocolate milk from Star Food Healthy Express machine

Yeah, that is so healthy!

[mylife]

How is this good?

[2ndDivisionVet]

How about my elderly mother’s and aunts & uncles’ alma mater, Miami Edison?

[Mad Dawgg]

Every public school in our area except for the High School is now 100% Free Lunch.

Apparently we have rules now that after a certain percentage of the school qualifies for free lunch they just make it so for everyone regardless of income etc.

They tell me next year the High School will qualify.

Unbelievable...!

[mylife]

We never had vending machines.
We had a Mother.

[mylife]

And I helped prepare my lunch, and my Father paid for it.

[Billthedrill]

Hooboy. So we have vending machine plastic food as a preferable alternative to the mung bean souffle and soybean pizza dispensed to less than eager little mouths by government fiat. If the little nippers suddenly went zombie and started munching down on the body parts of their benevolent elders I think I’d pass them the ketchup.

[mylife]

Types of meals offered:

Granola, fruit and yogurt parfait, milk

Chicken caesar wrap with veggies, milk

Turkey and cheese wrap with veggies, milk

Sliced apples, broccoli, salad, milk

Oh joy! and parents missing in action.

[mylife]

LOL!