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The vending machines are in additon too, not in place of, tray meals, at least in my district. As far as I know, all public schools have to offer a balanced meal that meets FDA guidelines because of the free/reduced lunch programs. I don't see a problem having the vending machines along with that. If other parents want to let their kids have $2.00 a day to eat junk food out of the machines instead of having a tray meal, that is their choice. I don't approve, but neither I nor the food nazis should have a say in it.

I don't like vending machines in schools because to a student, everything in the school building has the direct approval of the school. To put a vending machine in there selling candy bars and soda means that the school is approving of candy bars and soda. If the school didn't approve of it, they would ban it along with everything else that is banned in schools.

Plus the schools have a perverse insentive, because they get a kick back from the vending machine company that is based on the amount of junk that is sold in the machines. Schools should not be given a profit motive to encourage kids to eat junk food.