Vending Machines (Creative Commons)

The new-and-improved vending machines will “increase availability of lower-calorie beverages, display a “Calories Count™” label on the front of beverage vending machines, reminding consumers to consider calories in their beverage choices with messages such as “Check then Choose” and “Try a Low-Calorie Beverage.” Calorie labels will also be added to the selection buttons, showing how many calories each beverage contains, according to the American Beverage Association.

Altered vending machines will be available in Chicago and San Antonio first before spreading nationwide.

The Calories Count Vending Program goes hand-in-hand with the Los Angeles County campaign Choose Less, Weigh Less launched last week, which uses large visuals to educate people about portion sizes, calories and the daily recommended calorie-intake. For example, one ad shows a Subway 12-inch sandwich, 920 calories, compared to a 6-inch sandwich, 460 calories.

“Portion sizes in restaurants have grown. The average restaurant meal today is more than four times larger than in the 1950s. Portion sizes in our homes have grown. The surface area of the average dinner plate has increased 36% since 1960,” according to Choose Health LA.

Educating about calories and portion control to promote weight loss is part of a recent trend in the battle against obesity as part of a January 2011 measure, which mandates that California restaurant chains with 20 or more locations add calories to their menus. The law is supposed to encourage the 25% of Americans who eat fast food daily to choose healthier, lower-calorie options.

But is it working? When asked, McDonalds managers and floor managers were not allowed to give out information regarding their daily sales. The law does not apply to smaller restaurant chains or upscale restaurants. 

Find more Neon Tommy coverage on anti-obesity campaigns here.

Reach Staff Reporter Katherine Ostrowski here.