Should Chocolate Milk Be Banned At School Lunch?

The nation's smallest citizens are not immune to the growing obesity epidemic, leading political leaders, health experts and educators alike wondering how to get kids to eat healthier.

School lunches and childhood nutrition have been the subject of much debate in recent years, prompting heated arguments over whether or not governments and schools should regulate what children are allowed to eat.

Last year, some schools across the country banned chocolate milk, saying that it was too high in sugar and fat, and that healthier, lower calorie alternatives should be substituted. The move was applauded by some, but protested by others.

The Washington Post reports the 2009 chocolate milk ban in Fairfax County, Va. sparked outrage from parents who felt that the calcium-rich beverage shouldn't be outlawed.

Responding to months of calls and emails, district officials have announced they will reintroduce chocolate milk in local cafeterias -- albeit a different version of the drink.

But is this new version of chocolate milk that much healthier?

According to ABC World News, the new chocolate milk (made with sucrose) has 150 calories and 25 grams of sugar in a half pint -- compared with the 170 calories and 28 grams of sugar in a half pint of traditional chocolate milk.

WATCH:

Comments

[Kevin Duan]

05:55 PM on 05/12/2011

Chocolate milk should be banned from school lunches.... at my school its not just 6g of sugar it is 23g it's changed A LOT since when you guys were young. Parents need to be taught that they HAVE to get their kids eating healthier without dripping it in sugar or oil. First its milk... then what? we'll make fired vegetables? Put tons of cream and sugar on fruits to get them to eat that????? People who say their child needs the milk are right.... but they don't need the 23g of sugar that comes with it, and if ur worried that ur kid isnt getting enough calcium.... go buy some plain yogurt add some honey and fruits. Parents gotta stop thinking that puttin ridiculouys amounts of sugar inn foods well make there child healthier

[Renesmee Cullen]

10:26 PM on 05/11/2011

This is ridiculous....they banned chocolate milk at local schools. Most kids in these schools exercise by doing sports and enjoy getting their calcium from choco milk. It doesn't make sense...it has about the same sugar content as regular soda or the juice they serve.

[Danann Bain]

04:01 PM on 05/04/2011

The only ones who don't get to drink cow's milk anymore are baby cows.

[dpgaff]

10:48 PM on 05/01/2011

Children are supposed to be chubby between the ages of 8 and 11. This is hormonal because their bodies are preparing for growth spurts. There are minerals, vitamins, and nutrients that cannot be absorbed by the body without fat. Over the long run, a low fat diet produces nutritional deficiencies in children. A child should not be on a diet that was designed for a middle aged man with heart disease.
To grow properly and have strong bones and muscles, a child needs exercise. This is where a bit of sugar will help the child have quick energy to run and play.
Water as a beverage does leak electrolytes out of the bodies of young children. It should not be given to children who have a fever, or if the child is playing outside in the heat. Remember that salt and sugar are electrolytes.
A young childs' tummy is as big as her fist. Filling it up with wheat fiber is a mistake. Wheat fiber has no actual food value. The child will be full too quickly to eat well. The wheat fiber is not good for a tender, tiny digestive system. Children are not mini adults.

[krica256]

05:13 PM on 04/20/2011

The people suggesting this are going way over board on this diet thing. I grew up having chocolate milk for breakfast practically every day for years! I am very healthy, have no ailments, I am not fat and I wasnt even into exercising that much. I believe in curbing fats and certain foods that have artificial stuff in them. There is a lot of junky stuff out there.Chocolate milk, chocolate in general, is good for the soul.

[SuperMom101]

11:39 AM on 04/26/2011

"Good for the soul" or good for the dairy industries pocketbook?

Here's a question: why isn't water offered as a beverage choice? Yep! Water is not offered because the USDA (the government agency that reimburses your child's school lunch program) sees "no nutritional value in water" and will not reimburse your local school if water is offered as a beverage. Now what industry do you think got water banned?

So, our athletic teenage daughter that chooses to drink water can not get a water when she's in the lunch line. She is told, "the bottled water costs extra money. You can choose one of 4 types of cow's milk, including chocolate or a juice." Where's the water cooler with a cup?

Soda = candy in a can

Chocolate cow's milk* = candy in a carton

*My husband thinks it's milk that's about to sour and they just add sugar and chocolate flavoring and feed it to our kids. This isn't the same as heat it up on the stove with melted chocolate on a cold day in the Northeast.

[trusk]

01:43 PM on 04/28/2011

I agree with you on the water!!

But disagree with banning chocolate milk.

[MG Metiva]

09:03 AM on 04/18/2011

Ban the Chocolate milk!

[nikkid39]

12:31 AM on 04/17/2011

No. There is not one drink or one food that causes obesity.

[Tom Hendricks]

11:59 PM on 04/16/2011

If schools can't give up sweetened milk, how are we ever going to get healthy lunches?

[pinkibus]

04:21 PM on 04/16/2011

YES. Ban chocolate milk. Stick with an apple and a bit of vegetable like salad. That is healthy and enough.

[Acert]

10:57 PM on 04/16/2011

Chocolate milk has calcium; apples have very little.

[pinkibus]

02:01 AM on 04/17/2011

acert - you are a true wonder. I should have said give up chocolate milk and use whole milk plus an apple and a bit of salad. A little healthy food and no stuff like pizza or fries or any other junk. Enough is enough. But it wouldn't hurt to substitut e apple with a few orange segments. You know. Healthy and not a lot.

[IgnoranceKills]

11:58 AM on 04/16/2011

I'm sorry, what's wrong with fat?

Anyway, I'd like to see what else they serve these kids that makes chocolate milk such a target. I can't help but think they're getting pizza, french fries, fruit cups in syrup, etc.

Give them whole milk.

[Yeom]

02:23 AM on 04/16/2011

It is unbelievable that anyone is debating this issue.
Not only is chocolate milk bad for kids, it is becoming increasingly clear that many people have significant allergies to dairy.
Why 'milk' is a government designated must-have healthy choice for our kids is mind boggling.There are plenty of other sources for calcium.

[Acert]

10:57 PM on 04/16/2011

Should milk be banned for everyone because some people are allergic to it?

[MG Metiva]

09:04 AM on 04/18/2011

Chocolate milk is both unhealthy and an allergen. It's a double-whammy.

[Yeom]

08:40 PM on 04/19/2011

Chocolate milk banned.....yes.
Milk banned ....no. However, it should not be the government mandated choice for meeting the calcium requirement on school menu's.

[Stilyagi]

01:52 AM on 04/16/2011

"the new chocolate milk (made with sucrose) has 150 calories and 25 grams of sugar in a half pint -- compared with the 170 calories and 28 grams of sugar in a half pint of traditional chocolate milk."

Wow. You've really made an advancement there... and added the "sucrose" chemical to boot.

If parents want to feed their kids junk, let them do it on their own dollar. Chocolate milk has no business being in subsidized lunches for kids. Might as well feed 'em rat poison fortified with calclium.

[IgnoranceKills]

11:59 AM on 04/16/2011

Did you really just compare chocolate milk to rat poison?

Hi King of Hyperbole.

[Matt Herren]

08:11 PM on 04/16/2011

How dare you question...

Know your place citizen.

[Stilyagi]

12:27 AM on 04/17/2011

Really? Cos I was going to compare chocolate milk to anthrax or Strontium-90, but I thought that might be pushing it. Whew, good thing I didn't. I think.

[jwoww]

03:53 PM on 04/15/2011

why is the govt either federal or local trying to make being a kid not fun anymore.

[vengence911]

04:15 PM on 04/15/2011

None of us are capable of thinking for ourselves so we need the government to save us and tell us what to do.

[Matt Herren]

08:03 PM on 04/16/2011

Because they know better.... it's for our own good. They promise.

[onionboy]

12:29 PM on 04/15/2011

I'm torn. Much research says that chocolate milk is THE best post workout beverage (who woulda thunk it?)...but we're not giving our kids much exercise anymore, so I guess that sort of defeats the purpose.

[DAE]

11:33 AM on 04/15/2011

Chinese scientists have recently announced that they have perfected transgenic humanized cow's milk that has human specific proteins that improve the immune system and promotes intelligence. After a two year trial it will be put on the market.