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Chocolate Milk: Nutritional Powerhouse or Treat?
Filed under: Nutrition: Health, In The News, Mealtime
Does chocolate milk do a body good? Credit: Jess Driscoll, Flickr
The "Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk" campaign and Raiseyourhand4milk.com are aimed squarely at school lunch as an opportunity to get the nutrition of milk with the added flavor kids love.
Some nutrition experts were not happy to hear about the marketing push. "I am completely furious about this," Meme Roth, a vocal New York City-based nutrition counselor and mother of two school-age children tells ParentDish. "We're serving kids candy for school lunch." The amount of sugar in a half-pint of chocolate milk negated any health benefits from the drinking it, she said.
Cupcakes were banned at some schools in recent years after sweet treats became a target in the wake of rising numbers of obesity and diabetes in children. Is chocolate milk in the same league as cupcakes and candy?
The National Dairy Council contends a slew of experts vouch for flavored milk.
"The American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and the School Nutrition Association, recognize the valuable role milk, including flavored milk, can play in helping children meet their daily nutrient needs," according to the group's website.
Adding chocolate to milk, doesn't take away it's essential nutrients, according to the campaign. "Low-fat chocolate milk is the most popular milk choice in schools and kids drink less milk (and get fewer nutrients) if it's taken away," according to an ad in the campaign. The information is based on a study conducted by the National Dairy Council.
Parents have a lot on their plates when it comes to feeding their children and steering them away from certain foods, according to New Jersey-based registered dietitian Felicia Stoler who is a spokesperson for the campaign told ParentDish. "We're really trying to convince consumers there are better foods, nutrient dense foods that are a better choice." Many sports and other flavored drinks offered at schools don't have the protein, vitamins and minerals of milk, she said.
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
11-30-2009 @ 11:18AM
sarah said...I would rather my children have chocolate milk (calcium, protein) than soda, kool-aid or fruit punch and other sugary drinks. Yes, chocolate milk has some sugar and maybe a tad of caffeine, but if that is the only way they will drink milk, it is worth it. Just brush their teeth!
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11-30-2009 @ 2:45PM
Clarissa said...I buy Ovaltine for chocolate milk. It's nutritious and delicious and a heck of a lot better for you than any chocolate syrup you use to make chocolate milk.
11-30-2009 @ 9:24PM
Sifrina said...Sarah - I totally agree! My son's a great water and milk drinker but when he wants chocolate milk I don't have a problem with that (much better than juice or soda, which he rarely gets). Organic chocolate milk boxes are great for his school lunches but I prefer to mix it myself into lowfat, organic milk (so I can control how much chocolate syrup goes into it). The only time I'd say no is if he's already had 1 or 2 chocolate milks. My pediatrician suggested milk for the calcium and vitamin D so this works for me (and my son)!
12-12-2009 @ 5:01PM
Dave said...Kids need to be kids and enjoy something tasty once in a while. I agree with Sifrina in that there should be a limit to the amount of chocolate milk a child consumes in the day, but I see nothing wrong with it being part of their regular diet. At the end of the day we parents need to get our kids involved in physical activities after school and get them playing outside. We need to teach them to eat right and burn calories not live in fear of them. Most of all, food should never be used in any type of punishment or reward system. I have a neighbor that has a bowl of candy in the kitchen and she parents through a series of threats and rewards with mini snickers candies. It's sad.
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12-15-2009 @ 12:56PM
jenn said...my 2.5 yr old drinks choc. milk about a couple times a day...i use the reg ol choc syrup...but i just put a tad in...like less than half of the 2 tbsp serving size...more like i use a tsp...hes fine with it and im fine with it
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