Well, some vending machines are better than others, of course. But some things I've seen in vending machines that might be acceptable in a pinch:

• pork rinds
• almonds or other nuts
• plain chocolate bar, the darker the better
• beef jerky (though I've seen it with gluten, so that's chancy if you can't see the ingredients list)
• peanuts

I know most of us wouldn't make peanuts a regular thing because of the high omega-6 content, but I'd eat a small bag of peanuts before most things in a vending machine. Ditto sunflower seeds.

See, if I am going to cheat, I REALLY want to cheat.

DORITOS: Because, more than likely, I'm stoned.

Goo Goo Bars: Frankly don't know if you can get these outside of the South or if they even make them anymore.

Moon Pie, or in lieu of this (since I don't see them often) maybe a Hostess Snowball or, why not go for a classic, Twinkies.

The vending machines here have two possible choices for me, peanuts and popcorn. Not above either in a pinch, but they are not really that filling.

This is why I have a stash of emergency Laura Bars. I would keep nuts but they keep getting eaten. I can't just have nuts around. I should take another run at beef jerky, but so far I just haven't liked it.

One of our offices now stocks the Bumblebee "tuna salad kit"--3 oz. can of tuna, mayo packet, crackers. About as close as I've seen yet.

Chocolate covered almonds in a pinch.

If I could find a vending maching with these things in them then I'd be over the moon:

• Pork Scratchings (although the big brand packs have so many additives)
• 85% Chocolate
• Kettle Chips

I expect though I'd have to force down a bag of minstrels and a coke! :(

my kingdom for a damn apple.

you inspired me to look at the machines in my YMCA, and its all junk except for beef jerky which is still junk because its a snap-into-a-slim-jim.

now i can go back to just walking right past them.

Maybe a good opportunity to experiment with intermittent fasting.

Peanuts are all I have ever found to eat.

To be honest, if I'm really stuck (i.e. really hungry, really short on time, only option is a convenience store or vending machine), I get a candy bar with a lot of nuts (Snickers or PayDay).

If you look at the nutrition, a candy bar isn't a whole lot different than a Cliff Bar or Power Bar or whatever, just has a little more sugar. Almost all typical candy bars are gluten free or close to it (probably no actual gluten-containing ingredients but probably some cross-contamination for the gluten-sensitive), which to me is the most important Paleo-ism.

Nuts are a Paleo cheat, but waaay better than your typical candy which is more sugar, stabilizers, colorings, and bad oils than anything else, so it's all relative. In the spectrum of cheats, I'd rather have a little sugar instead of a big pile of either gluten or hydrogenated fats.

I'd much rather just skip the food and eat some extra steak when I get a chance, but hey life comes at you fast sometimes.