The hallway vending machines and downstairs convenience stores beckon the hungry and lazy with their salty and sugary treats. They are the bane of dieters.

For the sedentary office worker, it’s easier to grab a candy bar or bag of chips than to pack a nutritious lunch or snack. But the long-term consequences of such food choices include chronic health problems and rising medical expenses.

Obesity-related health care costs in Hawaii are estimated at $470 million a year, with an additional $770 million spent on diabetes-related treatment and care.

"Without effective interventions, half of adults in Hawaii are projected to be obese by the year 2030," said Lola Irvin, manager of the state Department of Health’s Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Division. "Providing healthy food options where people work increases the likelihood that people will eat a healthier diet."

To give government workers and others those better options, the department has launched the Choose Healthy Now initiative at eight snack shops on Oahu. Food and beverages have been flagged with green, yellow and red stickers to help customers identify healthier items, while printed materials explain the system and benefits of healthful eating.

Blind and vision-impaired vendors in the Department of Human Services’ Ho’opono program have volunteered to offer the pilot program in their shops.

"We’re trying to encourage people to eat healthier in a place where they spend so much of their time," said Leimomi Dienks, community intervention specialist at the Department of Health. "We want them to realize that healthy snacks can taste good, too."

The project was a priority of late state Health Director Loretta Fuddy, who died in a plane crash after visiting Kalaupapa in December. According to Deputy Health Director Keith Yamamoto, Fuddy was an advocate of healthful eating and work site wellness.

"This initiative honors her legacy. She would be proud to see the launch of this project," he said in a news release.

NUTRITIONIST Carolyn Donohoe Mather was responsible for finding snacks to fit the criteria for each category. "Green" or "Go!" snacks and beverages must provide a serving of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, seeds or a nonfat or low-fat dairy item with minimal or no added sodium, sugar or fat.

These include Mrs. May’s Trio fruit and nut bars for $1.50, Fuji Apple Crunch Dried Fruit ($1) and Planters NUT-rition packs ($1.50).

Yellow-labeled "Slow" snacks are considered less healthful and might contain artificial sweeteners, and having that information can be helpful to diabetics who must avoid sugars.

"Red" snacks include candy bars, pastries, most granola and cereal bars, sugary drinks and fried food. Although they carry "Uh-oh" stickers because they do not provide significant nutrients or have excessive calories, they are still being offered.

Dienks explained that nothing was removed from snack shop shelves. The intention was to "provide the access and the choices," she said.

While stopping by the snack shop at the Queen Liliuokalani Building on Miller Street, which houses the Department of Human Services and the Department of Education, Campbell High School teacher Debbie Oh said she was looking for something "to fill me up and keep me going."

"The choices are pretty good, especially the protein bars and nuts," she said.

Before the three-month pilot project went into effect in May, employees were surveyed about their wants and needs, and tasting sessions were conducted at the various sites.

Chris Akamine, the vendor at the Queen Liliuokalani Building, said he’s been selling a lot of fruit bowls, Trio bars, nuts and Pirate’s Booty, a 65-calorie snack bag of white cheddar puffs.

On the first day he began promoting healthier snacks, Akamine made more in sales by 10:30 a.m. than he typically makes all day, he said.

But healthy snacking may be a hard sell for some. Gerry Lonergan, snack shop vendor at the Ho’opono Services for the Blind office in Liliha, said yellow-sticker items such as Greek yogurt, Pirate’s Booty, Fiber One 90-calorie brownies and Popchips are selling better than the green ones. Lonergan also sells roasted chicken and salads.

Work site wellness programs have proved effective at improving the health of employees, lowering overall health care costs, reducing absenteeism and improving employee morale and productivity, explained Irvin.

"It’s not about denying; it’s about shifting over. We hope that if the prices are competitive and the products taste good, people will choose the healthier options."