A pilot program to encourage Riverside young people to eat healthier foods is going citywide – and at least one other Inland city has done the same.

About a year ago, Riverside swapped out some of the junk food and sodas for healthier options in vending machines at the Cesar Chavez and Stratton community centers. Snacks such as nuts, trail mix and low-fat baked chips are nestled in among the candy bars and beef jerky, and half of the drink options are bottled water.

Now officials want to make over the rest of the city’s 34 vending machines in public facilities and for city workers, ensuring they are stocked with snacks that have less than 200 calories and no more than 35 percent of the calories are from fat, for example.

They may find themselves in slimmer, healthier company.

Earlier this year, Loma Linda University Health campuses replaced high-fat, salty snacks with air-popped popcorn, granola bars and drinks with no added sugar.

Menifee, San Jacinto and Temecula haven’t switched snacks and beverages in vending machines at city facilities.

Riverside plans the widespread rollout of healthier snacks in January, tying the changes in with fitness challenges for residents and city employees.

“It’s having a supportive environment so there’s healthier options available,” said Eddy Jara, coordinator of the city’s Nutrition Education Obesity Prevention program. “The intention is not to tell people what to eat, it’s really the city leading by example.”

At the Chavez center, the new snack choices didn’t catch on right away. But that was before a teen education program about healthier behaviors, said assistant recreation coordinator George Alcala.

Teens learned how to make pizzas on pita bread instead of a dough crust and grilled chicken salad with kale and spinach, and they were offered flavor-infused waters to drink.

“Our kids weren’t all for it, but what we did was give them taste tests and we showed them how tasty the healthier choices can be,” Alcala said.

The city also will be encouraging people to participate in an annual fitness program. In last year’s city employee challenge, 332 workers lost a total of 1,163 pounds in three months.

The Start R.I.G.H.T. program for residents allows individuals, schools and neighborhoods to compete for prizes and have access to free health education and exercise classes.

The tide seems to be generally shifting, Jara said.

“The food vendors and the cafeteria companies, they already see the trend and they’re responding,” Jara said.

Staff writer Stephen Wall contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: 951-368-9461 or arobinson@pe.com