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The Great Chocolate Milk Debate |
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To Drink Chocolate Milk or Not?
Many parents and school districts across the country are debating the nutritional value of chocolate milk and some are even banning it. Here is a peek inside the controversy of this tasty treat and its pros and cons.
In a November article in the Los Angeles Times, a school district in Barrington, Illinois, nearly outlawed the sale of chocolate milk in its school district because of questionable nutritional value. Upset by the decision, a local 5th grader took a stand. Inspired by a book she had read about a young activist, she began researching the pros and cons of chocolate milk versus other drinks that kids were able to purchase at school. At the end of the summer, she and two of her classmates presented the results to Superintendent Tom Leonard. Leonard agreed that the children could have chocolate milk on Fridays during the upcoming school year.
Lets face it—like this 5th grader, most kids would choose chocolate over regular “white milk.” The drink is calcium rich and filled with Vitamin D. However, chocolate milk has relatively high sugar content.
As parents, a smart approach is to not assume your child will not touch regular milk. Instead, weekly variations are a good option for them to drink enough milk to get the essential vitamins and minerals they need to grow. Here are some tips:
- Alternate between chocolate milk and regular milk choices weekly.
- Consult your local school district about the variety of milk that they provide and how often (if ever) they offer chocolate milk or other flavors
- If your child doesn’t drink regular milk and you believe chocolate milk is not the best option, provide flavored yogurt or cheese that is high in calcium and made with real milk
- Consider soy and rice milk options; your child may prefer these flavors
At the end of the day, milk is still the nutritious drink of choice by physicians and parents. No matter what form, children should be drinking it regularly.
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