If you're a frequent fast-food flyer or a vending machine junkie, chances are you're drinking lots of sugary drinks too. It just makes sense, doesn't it? If you're already eating crap, might as well throw in a crappy beverage too. Not only does this line of reasoning work for you -- it works for your kids too.

In one study, the diets of 1,475 middle school students were analyzed. The kids' schools all housed vending machines stocked with soda and other sweetened drinks. And here's what happened: Researchers found that 66 percent of students reported fast-food restaurant visits and of the 646 who used vending machines, 71 percent purchased sugar-sweetened drinks.

The bottom line, then: Use of vending machines and fast food restaurant visits seem to be associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Does this ring true for you and those around you? If so, you might want to revamp that lifestyle of yours. The gallery below can help you get started.

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Two years of a school nutrition program and your kiddos could be significantly less likely to become overweight. That's what happened at five Philadelphia schools. No such benefit for kids at five schools that didn't have such programs. Here, four reasons five schools got skinnier.

• Choices. Vending machines were stocked with low-fat, low-calorie snacks, like pretzels, baked chips, and low-fat granola bars. Soda was banned. And kids were encouraged to drink water, 100% fruit juice, and low-fat milk.
• Rewards. Kids who made healthy food choices won raffle tickets and could score prizes like bikes and jump ropes.
• Training. Teachers received 10 hours of training in nutrition education, and students got 50 hours throughout the school year.
• Family. Parents were asked not to send sweet treats to school, and kids were given a 2-1-5 daily challenge: Spend two hours or less watching TV or playing video games, spend an hour or more engaged in physical activity, and eat five or more servings of fruits and veggies.
  

Like what you see? Print this out and take it to our kids' school. See if the powers-that-be can implement some of these healthy practices.

(via Good Housekeeping, September 2008)

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Vending machines seem to be lurking around every corner, tempting us with their quick, convenient snacks. Even I, a self-professed junk food hater, fall prey to them every now and then. They're a dangerous thing when you're hungry and a long walk from the nearest cafe.

But you know what institution has the most vending machines? Schools. According to this article, 98% of high schools have vending machines, compared with 90% of middle schools and 43% of elementary schools. Now, if that's not bad marketing directed at kids, I don't know what is. I know that in my high school, the vending machine was a way of raising funds, but I think schools should find a better way to do this.

What's your take on the dreaded vending machine?

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My son likes many healthy foods. He'll often ask for carrots or fruit for a snack. He also enjoys low-fat yogurt, sunflower seeds, and cherry tomatoes as snack foods. He has no problems drinking water or 100% juices, either. But give him the option of eating candy or drinking sugary sodas and I can guarantee that's what he'll choose. I don't like to think of my kiddo having free rein in front of a school vending machine loaded with sugary sodas, chocolate, and candy. No child requires junk food, after all. I'm not the type of person who's a complete stickler about nutrition -- I'm perfectly happy to allow my son treats from time to time. But I prefer the treats to be at home where I can manage them myself.

Two bills that will pass on Sunday will phase out the sale of sodas and impose some restrictions on the calorie, fat, salt, and sugar content in foods sold on California school campuses. A former California senator, Marcia Escutia, has been researching and campaigning for increased nutrition standards in schools for more than 6 years. The bill states that drinks sold before, during, and after school must consist of fruit and vegetable juices without added sweeteners. Bottled water, low- or nonfat milk, and some sports drinks are also allowed.

I applaud California's efforts. I know other states have implemented stricter nutrition guidelines in the past and hope to see my state following suit soon.

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