Healthy Snacks that Sell in Boston and Providence Schools and Colleges

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Healthy Snacks that Sell in Boston and Providence Schools and Colleges

Wondering what healthy snacks appeal to students? With today’s snack regulations, deciding which healthy snacks to stock your schools with is no easy feat. Despite these new regulations, students have shown they will in fact purchase healthy snacks in school. According to a study done by Y-Pulse that surveyed 1,314 consumers, including 177 full-time college students, college students snack more than all other demographics and are snacking at all times of the day. Whether after a long day of learning, before their after-school activities, or during a finals study break, healthy snacks are an important component to student’s everyday lives. 

College Student Snacking

Our goal at Take Five Vending is to ensure students have good quality, healthy snack options that they look forward to eating. Let’s take a look into what healthy snacks are being sold in Boston and Providence colleges and schools. 

Baked Chips – A Great Snack for Schools

Baked chips are a healthy alternative snack to the classic potato chip. Not only are they significantly lower in caloric value and fat content, but their taste doesn’t stray far from the original flavorful bite you’re expecting. Consuming baked chips as an alternative has the ability to leave students feeling less groggy in the classroom, allowing them to focus more on learning. Consider keeping a wide selection of baked snack options in your vending machines, because offering a variety of flavors like Baked Lays BBQ, Sour Cream, Original, and Onion encourages healthier snack consumption among students in schools and colleges. 

Granola & Protein Bars – To Keep the Students Going

One of the more obvious healthy snacks being sold in Boston and Providence schools and colleges are granola bars and protein bars. These healthy snacks are full of vitamins and fulfill student’s hunger with ingredients designed to keep them going throughout their day. There’s a type of snack bar for every different type of student. RX Bars are high in protein but made with as few ingredients as possible. Whereas Kind Bars make a wide selection of whole grain, whole nut, products with varying fruits. All of which are healthy snack options for students. 

RX Bars that are great for students

Beef Jerky – A Portable Treat for Students in College and High School

This simple snack has origins that date back to 1550, yet it remains popular today. Though there isn’t much to it, beef jerky is a healthy snack option that’s low in calories, high in protein, and a great source of vitamins and minerals. Jerky’s portable nature makes it accessible in almost every situation, perfect for a student on-the-go taking snacks with them to class. Most importantly, it’s a healthy option that leaves them feeling nourished and ready to be active.

Dehydrated Fruit Chips – A Healthy Option for Boston and Providence Schools

Getting students to eat fruit has never been easier with dehydrated fruit chips. What’s better than a refreshing piece of fruit? A fun way to eat it! Fruit chips allow students to indulge in the fun chip crunch while actually eating a healthy snack. Students might lean away from eating traditional fruit in school due to the messy nature of it. By supplying them with dehydrated fruit chips in the vending machines instead they have the option to make the healthy choice with no messy inconvenience. Offering items like plantain chips exposes students not only to healthy snacks, but to snacks they might not have been exposed to yet. 

Plantain Chips for Schools

Thinking about stocking your vending machines with healthier snacks? We’d be happy to go over options that work best for your school system whether it be a public school or private college. Contact us at (508) 697-0800 anytime 7am-3pm, Monday-Friday OR shoot us a message on our Facebook page Take Five Vending.

 

    

 

Vending Service Options for Providence, Warwick, and Fall River Break Rooms

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Vending Service Options for Providence, Warwick, and Fall River Break Rooms

Wondering about bringing in a snack service for your business, but aren’t sure what your options are? Our job is to lay out all the vending service options for your Providence, Warwick, and Fall River break rooms. We would love to help guide you to a snacking solution that works best for all employees in the office or warehouse.

Vending Machines

Sometimes the most classic, well-known option is the one to go for: vending machines. With the ability to fill them with the snacks and beverages of your choice, vending machines provide a great option for offices that want to make on-premises snacks available to employees.  Choose from Coke, Pepsi, or other healthy beverages to make everyone in the office happy.  Don’t have cash? No problem. Our vending machines are fitted with credit card readers and are able to take Apple Pay and other EPay options. Our machines use the latest technology like infrared sensors and wireless monitoring to ensure your snack makes it in your hands every time.  Vending machines are a great vending service option for your Providence, Warwick, or Fall River warehouse to keep workers satisfied and smiling.

Micro-Markets

A micro-market is like having a mini store in your breakroom with a self-checkout. Micro-markets break out of the refreshment box with coolers and accessible shelves full of products available to the office 24/7. Each micro-market has a custom layout.  So, they can be installed into different rooms and spaces making them a flexible breakroom snacking option. Micro-markets use self-checkout kiosks that allow employees to pay for their snacks through a simple, streamlined process. Whether you want to let your employees pay for their own snacks in cash or provide an allowance to each employee through individual employee access codes, micro-markets allow you the option to do either. Interested in learning more about micro-markets? Reach out to us at 508-697-0800 or Contact | Take 5 Vending today.

Pantry Service

A lot of businesses want to provide snacks to employees as a way of showing appreciation and keeping a high retention rate. A pantry service is the perfect way to do so. With a pantry service we stock your breakroom, kitchen, or cafeteria with the snacks and/or drinks of your choice so your employees can access them as they please. We can work with you to create a delivery schedule, so your shelves never go empty. If you’d like to provide your workers with a breakroom snack service that’s paid for by the business, a pantry service might be a great option for you.

Coffee Service

From gourmet coffee to high quality teas, we have the office coffee service options to impress and inspire staff. We provide a huge variety so you can choose from national brand coffee in different roasts to teas crafted from high quality leaves and herbs.

The benefits of our office coffee service go far beyond a free cup of coffee or bag of tea. It inspires and energizes employees, cultivating creative solutions and inspiring collaborative environments. It eliminates the need for employees to leave the office for the hot drinks they desire, saving time and energy. There are dozens of choices from traditional pot brewers that serve a high volume of coffee drinks to single cup systems that office superior variety. Thinking about bringing a coffee service for the warehouse or office? We’d love to go over options that would work well for your business. Just contact us at 508-697-0800 anytime 7am-3pm, Monday – Friday OR shoot us a message on our Facebook page Take Five Vending | Facebook.

4 Healthy Beverages for Schools in Boston and Providence

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It’s the time of year that kids are returning to school. Some are heading off to college in the Boston area and while others are starting their first day of elementary school in Pawtucket. No matter what the age, set students up for success with healthy eating habits. This includes what they eat AND what they drink. Students who are properly hydrated feel and perform better at all levels.

Want to promote wellness in the classroom? Here are four healthy beverages for Boston, Providence and Brockton schools.

1. Water

Providing access to drinking water gives students a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages. It helps to increase students’ overall water consumption, maintain hydration, and reduce energy intake if substituted for sugar-sweetened beverages.

There’s no such thing as drinking too much water. There’s also no such thing as offering water in too many ways. Consider keeping water in vending machines along with installing a water filtration service to allow students to access water in more ways than one.

2. Milk

Milk has 9 essential nutrients, including protein that kids need. It contains calcium and phosphorus, which are both important in building strong bones. If students aren’t a fan of white milk, flavored milk such as strawberry, chocolate, or Rhode Island’s classic coffee milk are all great alternative options. Don’t worry about getting a warm milk from a vending machine- all of our machines are climate controlled, so drinks are served at the temperature they’re meant to be enjoyed at.

Most importantly, milk is a tasty lunchtime drink that goes great with cookies!

3. Tea

Years ago, you might not try to pitch tea to a group of 5th graders. With the advent of healthy iced tea options reaching the market, the taste of tea has totally transformed and with it the demographic of its drinkers. Offering tea from brands like Lipton and Pure Leaf in vending machines to students is a great way to encourage healthy beverage consumption. Numerous studies have shown that a variety of teas may boost your immune system, fight off inflammation, and even ward off cancer and heart disease.

Wondering if hot tea is an option for the teacher’s room? Absolutely! We set up tea and coffee stations in many schools’ breakrooms to create a space that helps teachers and staff relax.

4. Juice

Last on our list is juice. This cold beverage is perfect for any cafeteria. Keep juices in your Boston, Providence, or Brockton vending machines. Whether you enjoy orange, apple, or tomato you’re sure to gain the health benefits. Juice can help your immune system and give you certain vitamins and minerals for a healthy body. It can also lower certain cancer risks.

Healthy Beverages for Your School

Want to hydrate students and teachers? Make healthier choices by offering these beverages in your Providence, Boston, and Brockton schools!

Contact Take 5 Vending at (508) 697-080 or tfivevending@gmail.com for information about our office coffee, vending, micro-market, or office pantry.

Healthy Beverage Options for Boston Breakrooms

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Not sure what kinds of drinks to supply in your Boston office break room? The best place to start is with healthy and nutritious beverage options. Employees need certain nutrients and energy to keep them productive throughout the workday. Stock your break rooms with items like tea, flavored water, and other sugar-free refreshment options.

Our goal at Take 5 Vending is to keep every employee satisfied through quality break room solutions. So, keep reading below for three healthy drink options to have available in your Boston break room services.

Hot and Cold Tea Options

Tea is an awesome alternative to traditional soda. It appeals to a wide range of people and is a great beverage to sip on anytime throughout the day. In addition, it has a slew of added health benefits. Drinking tea daily can protect heart health, aid in weight loss, regulate blood sugar, help with digestion, and even support overall mental health. These health benefits are a result of the many nutrients, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties found in different kinds of teas. We offer tea service in conjunction with coffee service (in the form of tea bags), and also can provide bottled tea options from brands like Pure Leaf and Lipton in both decaf and regular varieties.

 

Flavored Water and Sugar Free Beverages

Flavored water has become a growing craze over the past decade and for good reason. It offers the same delicious taste, and sometimes carbonation, as soda but with more health benefits. Stocking your Boston vending machine or micro-market with flavored water will also help keep workers hydrated throughout the day. Hydration is a key factor in staying awake and focused during long workdays. If possible, opt for a selection of different water flavors to provide a variety that your employees will love. With brands like Vitamin Water, Polar Seltzer, and more there’s no lack of options!

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented tea that has been consumed for thousands of years. It has gained recent popularity for its proposed health benefits. Not only does it have many of the same health benefits of tea (black and/or green tea being one of its main ingredients), but it’s also rich in beneficial probiotics. Advocates say it helps your digestion, rids your body of toxins, and boosts your energy. Many of the popular brands like Health-Ade and GT’s traditionally come in glass bottles, making them a perfect option for your micro-market.

If you’re looking for the best healthy beverage solutions for your office in or around Boston, make sure to contact us at 508-697-0800 or visit us at our website Take5vend.com

Coke vs Pepsi – Which to Put in the Office Vending Machine?

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It’s one of the oldest debates in soft drink history around – the cola wars. The cola wars refer to the long-time rivalry between soft drink producers, The Coca Cola Company and PepsiCo. Whether you’re a casual sipper or a soda fiend, chances are you have a strong opinion when it comes to the Coke and Pepsi battle. The good news is whether you’re a Coke or Pepsi fan, we carry both in our vending machines so there’s no need to fret. What really separates Coke from Pepsi? And when did the so-called Cola Wars start? Read on below to find out.

Flavor

If you ask most soda drinkers the biggest difference between Coke and Pepsi, nine times out of ten the answer will be that Pepsi is sweeter. It’s not surprising Pepsi is sweeter considering it has 2 more grams of sugar per can than coke. While many people describe coke as having a vanilla flavor, Pepsi has more of a citrus tanginess to it. This citrus taste results from citric acid being one of its ingredients. 

The Start of the Coke vs Pepsi Debate

In the early 1980s, the “Pepsi Challenge” emerged as a marketing promotion from PepsiCo. The challenge originally took form in a single blind taste-test.  At malls, grocery stores, and other public locations, a Pepsi representative would set up a table with two unlabeled white cups: one containing Pepsi and one with Coca-Cola. People were encouraged to taste both colas, and then select which drink they prefer. More times than not, people were choosing Pepsi over Coke which Pepsi went on to happily feature in much of their advertising. 

“New Coke”

In response to this, the Coca Cola Company launched “New Coke’ ‘in 1985, a drink with a sweeter taste designed to mimic Pepsi’s success in the blind taste tests. Complaints started filing into the Coca Cola company almost immediately, leading to the phase out of “New Coke” in just a few months after its release. 

In Malcolm Gladwell’s 2005 book Blink, he broke down the difference in taste and how it plays with people’s taste preferences. In his research, Gladwell found that people tended to prefer Pepsi in a single sip test because naturally people are drawn to sweeter sips. That same preference to sweetness doesn’t hold up when someone drinks a whole bottle or can. This is why many users prefer the smooth taste of Coke when drinking larger quantities. Pepsi, in short, is a drink built to shine in a sip test. 

Pepsi and Coke Vending

Can’t decide between Pepsi and Coke? Wondering what bringing in Pepsi or Coke for the office would look like? We’re here to help. With Coke and Pepsi vending machines, drink coolers, and micro-markets the options are endless! Contact us today to get started on setting up your ideal breakroom space. 

Water Service for Boston, Brockton, and New Bedford Offices

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Water Services for Boston, Brockton, and New Bedford Offices

Staying hydrated is key to staying happy during these long, hot summer days. Clean water is the most important beverage you can offer in your Boston, Brockton, and New Bedford break room. Although Massachusetts has some of the highest quality drinking water in the country, many people feel more comfortable drinking filtered water. How can you ensure clean water for employees? You can bring one of our many water service options into the office for everyone!

The Importance of Drinking More Water

When we’re at work, we’re there to do the obvious- work. So why not make sure your employees are on the top of the game when they’re in the office! 

Drinking water regularly during your workday ensures that you feel fresh and energized for improved productivity. Drinking water also helps Improve brain function. The human brain is about 75% water which means that dehydration has a direct effect on its functionality. Effects of dehydration on your brain include decreased alertness, slower reaction times, and reduced attention spans. Keeping hydrated ensures that your brain is firing on all cylinders for maximum effectiveness.

Wondering What a Water Service in Your Business Would Look Like?

When it comes to bringing in water for the whole office, there’s many options. Depending on what your space, size of workforce and budget are, every office might find a different solution that works best for them! Here’s a list of some of the office water services we offer.

-Bottled Water, which can be displayed in a vending machine, micro-market cooler, or pantry-service style.

-Cooler Service, which requires a source of water to plug into in order to filter water to be dispensed. Most commonly, this is the cheapest option. 

-Water Cooler, which we provide 5-gallon jugs of your favorite brands of water including Crystal Rock, Polar, and Poland Springs. This option is great for businesses that don’t have a water line available in their break room space, but still want filtered water.

Interested in bringing in water service for your office? Give us a call at 508-697-0800 or visit our website to leave a message today!

Office Coffee Breaks in Rhode Island

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Whether you’re a Rhode Islander sipping on coffee or coffee milk on your break, it’s nice not to spend the extra time leaving the building to go grab the cup of joe somewhere else. With the return of workers to the office, many businesses are encouraging employees to take breaks on-site through creating spaces workers can relax and enjoy a gourmet cup of coffee with a snack or meal. In addition to being relaxing, office coffee breaks have many benefits for workers!

 

coffee cup next to computer in office

Benefits of Coffee Breaks

Increased Productivity: Coffee contains caffeine, which is known for its ability to fight fatigue and increase energy levels by altering levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Additionally, taking a break from work increases focus when employees return to work, thus increasing their productivity.

Health Benefits: Some research suggests that drinking coffee could help protect against Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and cognitive decline.

Time to De-Stress: Work can always be stressful and coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic wasn’t easy on most workers. An office coffee break offers staff a step away from the workspace and allows them time to relax in a breakroom they can enjoy.

Types of Office Coffee Service

There are many routes to take when thinking about bringing in a coffee service for the office. We’re here to lay them out for you.

Some businesses might be looking to provide all the bells and whistles for coffee service. Others might want to just provide a machine their workers can purchase a cup of coffee from. Read below to find out the difference between the various coffee service options.

Coffee Pot Service: 

If you’re a traditionalist, this might be the best choice for you. With a coffee pot service, a company would install a drip coffee pot in the space with cups, creme, sugar and any other coffee amenities placed around. Most commonly with this option the business owner will pay for all the supplies, making coffee complimentary for all the workers.

K-Cups: 

If brewing a pot of coffee for the whole office doesn’t sound good to you, K-Cups might be the solution you’re looking for. Once Keurig coffee maker is in the space, owners can choose one of two solutions. The business may either choose to buy and provide the K-cups for the workers to take as they please, or K-Cups can be installed in a snack vending machine for individual sale near the Keurig unit.

Coffee Vending Machines: 

One of the best options for individual sales, a coffee vending machines allow the purchaser to choose their drink whether it be espresso, cappuccino, or a plain black cup of coffee and brews it upon payment. These machines are most diverse when it comes to forms of payment, as they accept cash, credit, debit, and Apple Pay.

Brio:

Brio Up is an automatic dispenser that perfectly meets the needs of medium-sized communities, thanks to a wide range of coffees and hot beverages. If a coffee vending machine is too big to physically fit into your breakroom, a Brio machine would be a more size-accommodating option.

If none of these choices sound like a great fit, don’t fret – options for coffee service are endless!

Thinking About Office Coffee Service?

With over ten brands of coffee to choose from including favorites like Lavazza, Dunkin’, and New England Coffee we’re confident we can find a coffee solution that leaves everyone in your office satisfied.

To revise your current break room menu or arrange a new break room space, contact Take 5 Vending at 508-697-0800. We look forward to enjoying a cup of Joe with you.

Benefits of a Micro-Market in Boston Businesses

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Do you wish you could offer your employees a wider selection of snacks than a vending machine can offer in the breakroom? A micro-market is the perfect solution. It offers a wider range of snacks, beverages, and fresh food in open-front coolers and on free-standing racks. Your break room will become a welcoming space for everyone in the office.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider installing a micro-market into your business’s break room.

Micromarket that Take 5 Vending has setup for a Boston business
Micro-market setup in a Boston business.

More Variety in the Breakroom

The main purpose of a micro-market is to offer everyone in the office tasty snacks, beverages, and pre-packaged fresh food. With a bigger physical layout than vending machines can offer, micro-markets are the way to go if you would like to offer your employees a wider selection of refreshments. Access to delicious on-site choices means your employees don’t have to go off-site for their lunch or coffee breaks. And, as a result, staying on-site creates many benefits, from unplanned team work to increased output.

Part of our job is to make sure your employees have the options they crave. Whether it’s the latest energy drinks or coconut waters, the newest healthy snack trends, or delicious fresh food we are always updating our selection. Also, don’t forget the coffee service. With most Boston and Providence adults drinking coffee every day, access to freshly brewed cup of joe is something everyone in the office will love.

Easy Payment Technology

In today’s rapidly changing work environment, technology must keep up to meet new demands. We have designed our micro-markets so the technology that powers them can do just so. Unlike a store, a micro-market does not need a cashier. One (or multiple) self-checkout kiosks are installed with every micro-market to ensure quick and easy checkout. Businesses have the option to pre-load payment cards for employees or to have each transaction be paid separately by the person buying the snack, like in the case of a vending machine.

Carefully placed security cameras help deter theft and keep an eye on the space. Additionally, wireless technology helps us track inventory and equipment status. We use the real-time data to keep everyone’s favorite products in stock, and as always, we welcome suggestions from employees themselves to ensure everyone can have their number one snack on the shelf.

Flexibility for your Business

Huge staff? We got you. Small staff? We got you. Hungry Staff? We most certainly got you.

Each company’s break room needs are different from the size of the staff to the time of the day employee’s visit the breakroom to the room’s layout. Micro-markets are flexible in the way that they can be sized up or down, and don’t need certain spacial requirements like a vending machine to be installed. No matter what your situation is, we’re confident we can customize a breakroom snacking solution that will leave the office satisfied. For more information about our micro-markets, coffee service, and vending options, please contact Take 5 Vending at 508-697-0800. We look forward to hearing from you.