title: Campus-based snack food vending consumption.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the purchases of university vending machine clientele and to understand what consumers purchase, purchase motivations, and purchase frequency after implementation of a vending policy designed to promote access to healthier snack options.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data collection from consumers at 8 campus vending machines purposefully selected from a list of highest-grossing machines. Vending machines were stocked with 28.5% green (choose most often), 43% yellow (occasionally), and 28.5% red (least often) food items.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consumers were predominately students (86%) and persons aged 18-24 years (71%). Red vending choices were overwhelmingly selected over healthier vending options (59%). Vended snack food selections were most influenced by hunger (42%) and convenience (41%). Most consumers (51%) frequented vending machines at least 1 time per week.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite decreased access to less healthful red snack food choices, consumers chose these snacks more frequently than healthier options in campus vending machines.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, University of Texas, Houston, TX. Electronic address: michellecaruso.43@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Caruso
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Elizabeth G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior and Health Promotion, College of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH.
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005509:Food Dispensers, Automatic / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D062410:Snacks / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: food choices; food policy; nutrition; snacking; vending machines