Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, a lot has changed when it comes to how people live. Whether it’s school, athletics or even at home, my freshman year of high school was in person for the first semester and went digital all the way until my junior year.

 However, one thing I do remember about my freshman year is the vending machines. I am a big fan of sugary drinks, and even though it’s not the healthiest option, sometimes a coke or a gatorade helped get me through the day. My freshman year I could get what I wanted. Ever since we started in person learning again, things have changed.

I noticed that every vending machine at Rolling Meadows High School has switched to healthier alternatives. Don’t get me wrong, this is a great idea. Healthier snacks mean less calories and less fat. However, every drink is sugar free, zero calories, or diet. I know I am not alone when I say that diet and sugar free drinks are disgusting. They have a despicable after-taste and don’t even taste like the original. They are also loaded with fake chemicals that are meant to make the drink “healthier,” when in reality, the chemicals in some of the drinks could be worse than the sugar and calories that it would normally contain. In my eyes, there is a simple solution to make everyone happy.

The vending machines can be split in two sides, where one is normal drinks, such as regular Coke, Pepsi, Gatorade and water. The other side can be the no sugar and diet drinks. This way, people like me can enjoy a regular drink, while others may prefer the “healthier” option. I think this is also a way to make the students happier and not have to stare at diet and sugar free drinks all the time.