
We've seen a number of vending machines that offer healthier food options than a bag of Funyuns — especially at schools and offices. But Chicago's Farmer's Fridge takes the trend of nutritious, fast and affordable food to a whole new level. Currently located at Chicago's Garvey Food Court, and off Interstate 94 at Illinois' Lake Forest Tollway stop, the new kiosk-style vending machines are stocked daily with freshly-made salads and optional protein add-ins like lemon pepper chicken and poached salmon, as well as healthy breakfast and snack items, smartly packaged in recyclable plastic jars. Prices max out at about $12 for a fully-loaded salad (basics start at $8), which is a pretty sweet deal considering most of the ingredients are organic and, when possible, sourced from local farms.
The design of the kiosk itself is a pretty cool feature too. Fashioned from reclaimed barn wood and accompanied by recycling bins for the empty plastic food containers, the machines definitely look the part of a modern-day farm-to-fork fast food vendor.