By: Sumi Ishida
Although Karakura High School and Community College’s chefs work hard to provide nutritious meals for students, there are many days where students must go without. Whether from illness, being understaffed, or other extenuating circumstances, the cafeteria sees many days without operation. In order to fill their stomachs, students must turn to the nearest school vending machine to attempt at finding a snack to satiate their hunger. But do these packaged delights truly provide a nourishing meal? Let’s break down what nutrition these snacks actually hold, and how you can optimize your purchases to meet your specific needs.
Dried Sweet Potato (100g):
Calories: 393
Sodium: 107mg
Carbohydrates: 89g
Protein: 4g
Calcium: 57mg
Potassium: 536mg
Edamame (100g):
Calories: 122
Fats: 5g
Sodium: 6mg
Carbohydrates: 10g
Protein 11g
Calcium: 63mg
Iron: 2mg
Potassium: 436mg
Edamame also contains many different essential micronutrients!
Dried Bananas (100g):
Calories: 346
Fats: 2g
Sodium: 3mg
Carbohydrates: 88g
Protein: 4g
Calcium: 22mg
Iron: 1mg
Potassium: 1491mg
Dried Bananas also contain many different essential micronutrients!
Dried Mango (100g):
Calories: 325
Sodium: 25mg
Carbohydrates: 80g
Protein: 3g
Calcium: 25mg
Iron: 4mg
Potassium: 150mg
Milk Carton (200ml)
Calories: 126
Fats: 7g
Cholesterol: 21mg
Sodium: 89mg
Carbohydrates: 10g
Protein: 6g
Calcium: 233mg
Iron: 0.1mg
Potassium: 272mg
Vitamin D: 0.2ug
Milk Cartons also contain many different essential micronutrients!
We may observe that no single one of these snacks will make up a sufficient meal. However, amongst the different vending machines, this one provides the most nutritionally dense and diverse options. In order to attain adequate nutrition to fuel our brains for the day’s classes, we must combine our options! Dried sweet potatoes provide a healthy boost of carbohydrates to provide energy throughout the day, along with the most significant amount of sodium out of the options provided. Edamame provides the most notable amount of protein, at a total of 11g per 100g, along with a healthy dose of fats to boot! Dried bananas contain a good chunk of your daily potassium needs, a vital electrolyte, and a comparable amount of carbohydrates to the sweet potatoes. Dried Mango provides a large amount of your required iron, and a good amount of carbohydrates as well. Milk cartons contain the most calcium, fats, and cholesterol for strong bones and cell production.
Each of these items contribute well to your overall nutrition intake, but which will be best for you? I’d recommend grabbing at least a few different ones for each meal, varying your choices each time. If you have higher protein needs for muscle building, add some extra edamame. If you have anemia and need extra iron, make sure to get some dried mango. Going through a growth spurt? The calcium in milk will be great for you! Feeling tired, and need some more energy? The carbohydrates and electrolytes in dried sweet potatoes and dried bananas should help give you the boost you need! With the right customization, your on-the-go meals can now be both delicious and nutritious. Happy munching!
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