goodbye vending machines...

Who knew the day would come when vending machines would be considered "so old-school"? Check out this CO company which has designed a healthy, sleek replacement for the not-so-healthy vending machines. Boulder Natural Vending has implemented a Bamboo Box & Eco Fridge which customers can store healthy, local products which he sells to their schools.

Currently it's in an elementary school in the Boulder, CO area and is hoping for expansion into other schools in the CO region. Should be interesting to see where they plan to expand this company throughout CO and the US as well as selling to companies as well as schools. Hoping this reaches the East Coast soon & best luck for success in the CO market!

low-cal...no melt....chocolate!

WOW! What else could you want from chocolate? It already is good enough but now there's a low-cal, no melt one...all I can say is bring it to the US! TIME investigates Swiss chocolatier Barry Callebaut & how they aren't letting this special secret out anytime soon. Apparently it has something to do with the enzymes in your saliva - meaning that it's the only time it will melt. For chocolate lovers out there curious to taste this be ready for a different texture - more of a crunchier one rather than creamy.

For now...we will have to wait 2 years for this product to appear in the masses but keep your fingers crossed that it will make its way to the states because what could be better than a healthier chocolate?

whole grains in a drink?

A bit skeptical about this new food find... Whole grains in a smoothie? Odwalla has come out with a new line called Wholly Grain in a Tropical Medley flavor. Check out the info on QSR or BevNet.

Am interested to know how a grain-y smoothie can taste if it has a granular taste or if it still keeps the smoothie taste that's necessary for its success? The plus of this new line extension is that it appeals to celiacs as the grain in it is brown rice, naturally gluten-free. Interesting way to make an already healthy smoothie more healthy...only thing I wonder is if its taste and sales will live up to the cute packaging and catchy name?

healthy icecream...isn't that an oxymoron?

Healthy Icecream...two words that should NEVER, I repeat NEVER ever be in the same sentence. Isn't the point of icecream to be enjoyed as a nostalgic treat of cold, sweet, creamy goodness from your childhood? Apparently 3 brands - Klondike, Breyers, & Popsickle are coming out with healthier versions this summer with the healthy hype trends consumers are starting to stick to. (No offense, but if you plan on eating lots of icecream, it may not matter whether it's a healthy version or not because it's still junk food.)

Check out this quickie article found in Drug Store News.