Every kid in my class had to write an essay on if chocolate milk should be in schools of not. I wrote this essay on the side of chocolate milk in schools.

By: Charlie

“Did you know that all milk -flavored or not – is packed with nutrients. One cup of fortified low-fat milk contains around 100 calories and 13 grams of sugar (in the form of lactose, a sugar found naturally in milk) and about 300 milligrams of calcium (about 25% of kids’ daily need) as well as vitamin D, vitamin A, B vitamins, and minerals like potassium and phosphorus. And the same size serving of typical low-fat chocolate milk contains about 160 calories and 25 grams of sugar (the increased amount comes from added sugar),  with comparable levels of vitamins and minerals.” (Is Chocolate Milk Healthy for Kids, Everyday Health) In my school chocolate milk is not an option. , I believe chocolate milk should be served in school cafeterias because it is still healthy for kids, students will drink more because the milk is flavored (they prefer it) and when chocolate milk was banned milk consumption overall dropped.

Chocolate milk  should be served in schools because it is still milk and milk is healthy for kids. For example chocolate milk only has 60 more calories than regular milk. What is the big deal people don’t become obese overnight a little extra sugar here and there doesn’t really impact an athlete or most kids lives. Also flavored milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as regular white milk. Finally Drinking low-fat or fat-free white or flavored milk helps kids get the 3 daily servings of dairy foods recommended by Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Chocolate milk should be served in schools because students will drink more milk if it is flavored. For example at two Colorado schools  Mona Martinez-Brosh monitored milk sales and found that white milk “decreased by 31% at one school and 48% at the other school.” during a chocolate milk take away. Also according to the Dairy Industry data milk consumption dropped by 35% when flavored milk was removed or limited.

Lastly when chocolate milk was banned milk consumption overall, dropped. For example the nutrition director and registered dietitian at Colorado’s Aurora Public Schools, Mona Martinez-Brosh piloted a program offering only plain unflavored white milk to two schools. She found that milk sales at one school dropped by 31% at one school and 48% at the other. Also an organization lead by Ms. Pratt-Heavner released study results in July 2010. This showed that elementary school students drank 35% less milk on average when flavored milk was removed. Lastly based on the evidence shown I can infer that children like what they like opinion wise. I know this because whenever flavored milk was removed from schools the overall consumption of milk dropped by a big margin.

I have found through a lot of research that this whole chocolate milk controversy is not as big of a deal as experts say it is. “Chocolate milk has about as much sugar as a candy bar.” said Jamie Oliver, famous chef.  In my opinion that is a pretty big exaggeration. In conclusion I think that chocolate milk should be allowed in school cafeterias because milk consumption dropped when chocolate milk was removed, students prefer flavored milk and will drink more when it is flavored it is flavored and milk is healthy.