Healthier vending machines headed to OP

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) - Tuesday was Wellness Day at Orchard Park Middle School, and the school celebrated a new vending machine, brought in by John Corto of the Buffalo Bills, that dispenses healthy snacks.

We're used to thinking of vending machine snacks as junk food. How about a vending machine that dispenses healthy snacks? That's what John Corto brought to Orchard Park Middle School.

Injured Bills Safey, John Corto said, "There's been a lot of talk about being healthy, but we wanted to put it into action."

Corto and his wife are working with a company called Human Healthy Vending. The foods in the machine are all better for you than ordinary snack foods. That's what the students wanted.

"We talked to our student council, and they said as a group that the students were really looking for some type of options like this. And in reaching out to John Corto and his wife, Jen, we were able to develop a really sttrong partnertship that gave us those opportunities to give to our children," said Principal Dave Lilleck.

The machine is attractive and has an LCD screen on top.

Corto said, "And the LCD screen actually educates the kids on how to stay healthy. Actually educates them on the products that are in the machine and the health benefits behind them."

"And that way it makes healthy vending very fun and enjoyable for the kids and the products taste good, too," added Corto.

And that's the point. Snack foods don't have to be bad for you.

Lilleck said, "We started the first day of school, and we've been selling out the machine almost on a daily basis - the students' response has been incredibly positive."

Shifting away from unhealthy snacks is a big step in the right direction.

Corto said, "You're not getting all the processed food, the synthetic stuff, you're getting wholesome stuff. We don't say you can't eat cookies, but if you're going to eat them, be smarter about it."