Best Vending Machine Snacks You'll Ever Eat

Vending machines are a staple for students, workers, hospital visitors, and just about anyone who needs a quick bite to eat or something to drink. Many vending machines contain common to-go snacks like chips, candy bars, crackers, and more. If you're a connoisseur of vending machines or looking to start a vending machine business, this list of the best vending machine snacks is for you.

What makes a good vending machine snack?

Great vending machine snacks generally have three characteristics. They require little to no prep time, aren't messy, and aren't fragrant. The latter is an important, often overlooked requirement, but if you're planning on eating at a desk in a school or office setting, you'll want to make sure your snack doesn't bother your classmates or colleagues.

Now, without further ado, here are some of the best snacks from vending machines that you'll ever encounter. I've included estimated calorie counts and primary ingredients, as well as potential allergens, as best I could. Always consult the packaging or the manufacturer's website for the latest nutritional info about your favorite snacks.

The Definitive List of the Greatest Vending Machine Snacks!

1. Honey Buns - These tiny pastries were the go-to snacks of my high school years. They're calorie-dense, super sweet, and inexpensive snacks that can substitute for a traditional breakfast when paired with the right energy drink. For a list of my personal favorite brands, head over to my article on the best honey bun brands.

2. Bumble Bee Tuna Salad and Crackers - With this snack, you get around 18 grams of protein, a nice serving of tuna and crackers for only around 300 calories. For those leading a healthy lifestyle, it can be the perfect alternative to a tasty yet fatty bag of Doritos.

3. Monster Energy Drinks - Monster makes the best energy drinks in the world. My personal favorite is the low-carb variant with the blue logo and font. The lineup is versatile enough to appeal to the masses with flavors like strawberry dream, Assault, Fiesta, and more.

4. String Mozzarella Cheese - Each stick of cheese contains around 8 grams of protein and less than 90 calories. It's tasty and when allowed to warm a bit, tastes like fried mozzarella sticks without the breading. Pro tip: place the cheese stick in your back pocket to speed the 'heating' process along.

5. Hot Sausages - Another staple of my childhood walks home from school. These are sausages of questionable origin that have been bathing in vinegar and other 'pickling' agents for who knows how long. Mystery origins aside, they are a super tasty snack that you'll never regret picking up.

6. Pickled Eggs - Regular pickles are great, but I could never eat them without being on a burger. Pickled eggs, on the other hand, are a perfect standalone snack. You get all the salt and vinegar goodness of a pickle but with the taste and texture of an egg.

7. Hard-boiled Eggs - Yet another solid source of protein that you don't find in many vending machines. But if you do, take one and place it into your favorite bag of chips. Next, simply crush it into a million pieces and when the yolk and egg whites mix with your chips, you'll have a delicious protein-packed salad on the go.

8. Nice Bars - I love Nice bars, and they are a much healthier alternative to traditional candy bars. The reason I often avoid them is that they are hard as steel. Every time I bite one, I feel like I could break a tooth. Heat them up a little by leaving them in your pocket before eating to prevent a dental disaster.

9. Sour Patch Kids - My two boys love all things sour, so whenever they haven't exceeded their weekly sugar quota, I grab a pack or two of the most sour candy I can find. Sour Patch Kids aren't overwhelmingly sour and have enough sweetness to balance out any of the unpleasantness associated with that back-of-the-mouth sting that sour foods cause.

10. Beef Jerky - You can't go wrong with dehydrated beef. It's tasty, protein-packed, and low in calories. The snack certainly won't fill you up, but it tastes great, especially the BBQ and teriyaki flavors. Just be sure to have a bottle of water or Gatorade close by, as the amount of salt in each stick will leave you feeling like dehydrated meat.

11. Smartfood White Cheddar Popcorn - Smartfood makes the best popcorn for those looking to avoid the grease and butter of traditional popcorn. Each bag generally only contains 70 calories, and they even make a kettle corn flavor for those looking for a sweet and savory taste.

12. Veggie Sticks - Ok, hear me out...Veggie Sticks with the right dipping sauce can taste better than Cheetos. Get a side of extra chunky blue cheese from your favorite wing spot and dip them to your heart's content.

13. Muscle Milk Protein Shakes - The chocolate Muscle Milk with 25 grams of protein is the best tasting protein shake around. The flavor profile is shockingly close to a McDonalds milkshake. Just don't grab the high protein one as that one tastes more like motor oil. For protein shakes and bars in general, anything with a protein content higher than 25 grams tastes horrible.

Snack on the move without sacrificing taste

A good vending machine can mean the difference between hitting or missing your caloric deficit goal. Some of the best fast meals I've ever eaten have come from vending machines, and if you're keen on interesting quick meals or enjoy discovering hidden, tasty gems at gas stations, be sure to subscribe below so you don't miss out on any new content.