10. Food & Water - Design for Healthier Choices in Vending Machines and Snack Bars

Implement practices to promote healthier choices in vending machines and snack bars

Rationale: Integrating behavioral design features — such as point-of-choice labeling and pricing incentives — at locations where food is available supports healthy nutritional choices, contributing to increased consumption of fruits and vegetables and reduced risk of diet-related diseases.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Requirement Guidance

For buildings with multiple entrances, identify a main building entrance that is used to access a common area within the building such as a lobby, reception area, or main circulation pathway.

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Healthy Food Choice Practice (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+), Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Implement healthier food choice practices in one of the following:

   • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only
   • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public.

   Qualifying vending machine and snack bar food areas are those classified under Type C or Type D within the Fitwel Healthy Food and Beverage Provision Policy

2. Implement a minimum of three of the following qualifying healthy food and beverage selection practices within each identified vending machine and/or snack bar:
   • employing point-of-choice nutrition labeling on all food items offered
   • featuring package design(s) that highlights healthy food and beverage options
   • prioritize healthy food and beverage options through displays or layouts
   • featuring healthy food and beverage options as the default

   • controlling food and beverage portion sizes.

     Healthier food options must meet the Type D Food and Nutrition Requirements of the Fitwel Food and Beverage Standard (found at https://www.fitwel.org/resources/fitwel-standards-policies-protocols). 

3. Implement a minimum of one of the following qualifying pricing incentives to encourage the purchase of healthier food options:
   • offering healthy food and beverage options at a lower price than other food and beverage options
   • highlighting healthy food options by providing free samples
   • providing discounts on healthy meals and menu items
   • offering rotating pricing specials on healthy food items

   • offering free fruits or vegetables and charging for other food items, if available.

     Healthier food options must meet the Type D Food and Nutrition Requirements of the Fitwel Food and Beverage Standard (found at https://www.fitwel.org/resources/fitwel-standards-policies-protocols). 

4. Ensure the vending machines and/or snack bars that implement the healthier food choice practices are located within a ½-mile or 800-meter walking route of a main entrance of each building within the project.

Option 2 - Healthy Food Selection Practice (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with all of the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+), Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Implement healthier food selection practices in one of the following:

   • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only
   • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public.

   Qualifying vending machine and snack bar food areas are those classified under Type C or Type D within the Fitwel Healthy Food and Beverage Provision Policy

2. Implement a minimum of three of the following qualifying healthy food and beverage selection practices:

   • employing point-of-choice nutrition labeling on all food items offered
   • featuring package design(s) that highlights healthy food and beverage options
   • prioritize healthy food and beverage options through displays or layouts
   • featuring healthy food and beverage options as the default
   • controlling food and beverage portion sizes.

   Healthier food options must meet the Type D Food and Nutrition Requirements of the Fitwel Food and Beverage Standard (found at https://www.fitwel.org/resources/fitwel-standards-policies-protocols). 

3. Ensure the vending machines and/or snack bars that implement the healthier food selection practices are located within a ½-mile or 800-meter walking route of a main entrance of each building within the project.

Option 3 - Healthy Food Pricing Incentives (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with all of the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+), Low-Rise Residential with no shared interior spaces (LR)

1. Implement healthier food pricing incentives in one of the following:

   • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only
   • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public.

   Qualifying vending machine and snack bar food areas are those classified under Type C or Type D within the Fitwel Healthy Food and Beverage Provision Policy.

2. Implement a minimum of one of the following qualifying pricing incentives to encourage the purchase of healthier food options:

   • offering healthy food and beverage options at a lower price than other food and beverage options
   • highlighting healthy food options by providing free samples
   • providing discounts on healthy meals and menu items
   • offering rotating pricing specials on healthy food items
   • offering free fruits or vegetables and charging for other food items, if available.

   Healthier food options must meet the Type D Food and Nutrition Requirements of the Fitwel Food and Beverage Standard (found at https://www.fitwel.org/resources/fitwel-standards-policies-protocols). 

3. Ensure the vending machines and/or snack bars that implement the healthier food pricing practices are located within a ½-mile or 800-meter walking route of a main entrance of each building within the required distance.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway (LR+, LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that the healthier food choice practices will be implemented in the following food areas (one minimum):      
    • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only  
    • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public.  
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to select the qualifying selection practices that will be implemented in each identified vending machine and/or snack bar (three minimum):      
    • employing point-of-choice nutrition labeling on all food items offered
    • featuring package design(s) that highlights healthy food and beverage options
    • prioritize healthy food and beverage options through displays or layouts
    • featuring healthy food and beverage options as the default
    • controlling food and beverage portion sizes
• Requirement 3:
  • Checkbox to select the qualifying pricing incentives that will be implemented in each identified vending machine and/or snack bar (one minimum):      
    • offering healthy food and beverage options at a lower price than other food and beverage options
    • highlighting healthy food options by providing free samples
    • providing discounts on healthy meals and menu items
    • offering rotating pricing specials on healthy food items
    • offering free fruits or vegetables in common areas and charging for other food items, if available
• Requirement 4:
  • Upload an annotated plan identifying the distance between each vending machines and/or snack bars that will implement the healthier food practices and a main entrance of the furthest building within the required distance.        

Option 2:

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that the healthier food selection practices will be implemented in the following food areas (one minimum):      
    • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only  
    • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public.  
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to select the qualifying selection practices that will be implemented in each identified vending machine and/or snack bar (three minimum):      
    • employing point-of-choice nutrition labeling on all food items offered
    • featuring package design(s) that highlights healthy food and beverage options
    • prioritize healthy food and beverage options through displays or layouts
    • featuring healthy food and beverage options as the default
    • controlling food and beverage portion sizes
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan identifying the distance between each vending machines and/or snack bars that will implement the healthier food practices and a main entrance of the furthest building within the required distance.        

Option 3:

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that the healthier food pricing incentives will be implemented in the following food areas (one minimum):      
    • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only  
    • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public.  
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to select the qualifying selection practices that will be implemented in each identified vending machine and/or snack bar (three minimum):     
    • employing point-of-choice nutrition labeling on all food items offered
    • featuring package design(s) that highlights healthy food and beverage options
    • prioritize healthy food and beverage options through displays or layouts
    • featuring healthy food and beverage options as the default
    • controlling food and beverage portion sizes
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan identifying the distance between each vending machines and/or snack bars that will implement the healthier food pricing practices and a main entrance of the furthest building within the required distance.        

Built Pathway (LR+, LR)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that the healthier food choice practices are implemented in the following food areas (one minimum):     
    • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only 
    • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public. 
• Requirement 2:
  • Text box to input the qualifying selection practices that are implemented in each identified vending machine and/or snack bar (three minimum):     
    • employing point-of-choice nutrition labeling on all food items offered
    • featuring package design(s) that highlights healthy food and beverage options
    • prioritize healthy food and beverage options through displays or layouts
    • featuring healthy food and beverage options as the default
    • controlling food and beverage portion sizes
• Requirement 3:
  • Text box to select the qualifying pricing incentives that are implemented in each identified vending machine and/or snack bar (one minimum):     
    • offering healthy food and beverage options at a lower price than other food and beverage options
    • highlighting healthy food options by providing free samples
    • providing discounts on healthy meals and menu items
    • offering rotating pricing specials on healthy food items
    • offering free fruits or vegetables in common areas and charging for other food items, if available
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying pricing incentive.      
• Requirement 4:
  • Upload an annotated plan identifying the distance between each vending machines and/or snack bars that implement the healthier food practices and a main entrance of the furthest building within the required distance.        

Option 2:

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that the healthier food selection practices are implemented in the following food areas (one minimum):     
    • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only 
    • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public. 
• Requirement 2:
  • Text box to input to select the qualifying selection practices that are implemented in each identified vending machine and/or snack bar (three minimum):     
    • employing point-of-choice nutrition labeling on all food items offered
    • featuring package design(s) that highlights healthy food and beverage options
    • prioritize healthy food and beverage options through displays or layouts
    • featuring healthy food and beverage options as the default
    • controlling food and beverage portion sizes
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying selection practice.      
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan identifying the distance between each vending machines and/or snack bars that implement the healthier food practices and a main entrance of the furthest building within the required distance.        

Option 3:

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that the healthier food pricing incentives are implemented in the following food areas (one minimum):     
    • all vending machines and snack bars that serve project occupants only 
    • a vending machine or snack bar retail area that is open to the public. 
• Requirement 2:
  • Text box to input the qualifying selection practices that are implemented in each identified vending machine and/or snack bar (three minimum):    
    • offering healthy food and beverage options at a lower price than other food and beverage options
    • highlighting healthy food options by providing free samples
    • providing discounts on healthy meals and menu items
    • offering rotating pricing specials on healthy food items
    • offering free fruits or vegetables in common areas and charging for other food items, if available
  • Upload an annotated photograph(s) showing each unique qualifying pricing incentive.      
• Requirement 3:
  • Upload an annotated plan identifying the distance between each vending machines and/or snack bars the implement the healthier food pricing practices and a main entrance of the furthest building within the required distance.