Concerned about the added sugars in flavored milk, some schools and activists are working to ban it from school menus, despite scientific evidence supporting its nutrient contributions to children's diets and recommendations from leading health professional organizations.
Learn the Facts, Read the Science, Inform Parents
Children clearly prefer flavored milk, and flavored milk makes an important contribution in helping children get three daily servings of dairy. Many health professionals agree that removing chocolate milk could cause more harm than good when it comes to children's health. Why?
- Nearly 70 percent of the milk children drink in school is low-fat or fat-free flavored milk. Research shows children will drink less milk when flavored milk is taken away.
- Flavored milk offers the same nine essential nutrients as white milk, including vitamin D and three of the five "nutrients of concern" children are not getting enough of — calcium, magnesium and potassium.
- Flavored milk drinkers are more likely to meet their daily nutrient needs and do not consume more added sugar, fat or calories, or weigh more than non-milk drinkers.
That's why it is important to tell parents the science behind flavored milk's benefits and support the Raise Your Hand for Chocolate Milk! Campaign. The campaign Web site has lots of Tools You Can Use to inform parents.
Sign the Petition
Urge parents to sign the petition for keeping chocolate milk on school menus. Be sure you sign the petition, too!
