It is a common sight at Whitney Young to see people enjoying snacks throughout the day. In class, in between classes, during division, whenever – Whitney Young assuredly has its shares snackers. “My lunch is 7th period, so I find myself constantly snacking throughout the day” says Elias O’Malley ‘20. I am writing this article, however, because I am concerned about the type of snacks people have been eating. Potato chips and candy bars are being stuffed down peoples mouths by the truckload. This is not good, as there exists an obesity epidemic in the United States, particularly among the youth. According to the American Medical Association, people who suffer from obesity are at higher risk of cardiac diseases. The vending machine doesn’t provide a solution – as even though the food in it is healthy, it is also unreasonably pricy and let’s be honest – pretty hard to eat.

“The vending machine? That food is terrible!” says Brandon Puchowitz ‘19.  To me, it seems that people’s unhealthy snacking habits are largely a product of convenience. Take a local corner stone, for example. One only needs to step inside to see the large variety of chips, candy, and chocolate. Junk food doesn’t inherently taste better than healthy food, but it’s cheaper to mass produce and easier to find. Worry not! There are several easy and feasible alternatives to snacking. “I put some grapes in a ziploc baggie, and they usually last throughout the day,” says Isabel Makris ‘22. Other suggestions include stowing an apple in your bag (you can even save an apple from your school lunch), and eating it during a passing period when you get hungry. One cannot stress the importance of healthy eating. Replace that junk food with healthy snacks.