When you think of vending machines, the last thing you probably associate them with is healthy food. But for hungry commuters getting off the subway at Fulton Street Station in downtown Manhattan, a new vending machine has been put in place that sells fresh salads in reusable glass jars—gasp!

The startup behind this healthy vending machine is called Fresh Bowl, and they are on a mission to make it easier to access healthy food, as well as an alternative to the plastic packaging that typically comes with grab-and-go salads. When you finish your salad, you can simply return the glass jar to the vending machine for a discount on the next meal. Fulton Street Station isn’t the only place where a Fresh Bowl vending machine has been installed. Two others have been put in place in New York City, and the startup is pushing to expand their network of vending machines to more locations around America.

So, what’s on the menu at one of these vending machines? Typically, the salads include dressing at the bottom, followed by ingredients like lentils or beans that soak up the dressing. Greens are at the top so they can stay crisp; when someone’s ready to eat, they shake the jar to dress the salad. The current menu also includes a pasta salad and a plant-based version spaghetti bolognese (made with squash instead of pasta, and lentils instead of beef). Bon appetite!

This story was one of the best from 2019, and we are happy to include it in our “12 Days of Optimism” as we welcome in the new year!4