Friday, October 5, 2007

Chocolate Milk and Kids

Should young children be able to drink up to two cups of chocolate milk a day while at school? That's the questions currently being discussed in local Early Childhood Family Education classes.

Kids attending local schools typically get to choose white or chocolate milk at lunchtime, and children in kindergarten may also receive chocolate milk at snack time. Not surprisingly, most choose chocolate over white milk. On the upside, kids are more likely to drink chocolate milk, meaning they get the calcium and Vitamin D they need. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children age 4-8 need 800 milligrams a day, which is about the equivalent of three servings of milk. On the downside, each carton contains 26 grams of sugar, according to the nutrition facts label. That's about as much sugar as is found in half a cup of Ben & Jerry's New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream, a York Peppermint Patty, or an 8 ounce can of Sierra Mist. But...chocolate milk typically contains only twice as much sugar as white milk, which contains 12 grams of sugar. And the sugar content of chocolate milk is about equivalent to that found in most unsweetened fruit juices.

So should kids be given such a sugary snack, even if it helps them get the calcium they need for growing bones? Experts offer differing opinions, although most seem to think the trade-off is worth it. Below, you'll find a sampling of some of those opinions. After reading them, weigh in with your own opinion by clicking on "comments."

American Dietetics Association: Regular or Flavored? The Benefits of Milk
"Getting children to drink more milk is a big issue for parents. If you're struggling to convince your children to drink more milk, try adding flavor to it. Research has shown that students who drink flavored milk have higher calcium and milk intake and lower sugar-sweetened beverage intakes. Like unflavored milk, chocolate and other flavored milk supplies calcium, phosphorus, protein, riboflavin and vitamin D that people of all ages need.

"For chocolate milk, the only difference from white milk is an additional 60 calories per 8-ounce serving from the added sweetener, and chocolate or cocoa. For most people, the health benefits outweigh extra calories the milk may contain."

Vincent Iannelli, M.D.: The Case Against Chocolate Milk (About.com)
"The biggest case against chocolate milk is that adding any flavoring to milk adds extra sugar and calories to an otherwise healthy drink. Even the newer 'no sugar added' varieties, like the Nesquik Chocolate No Sugar Added brand, has 3g of extra milk sugar and an extra 40 calories. And the more traditional varieties can add up to 18g of sugar and 90 calories per serving, which more than doubles the amount of calories that you would get from just the glass of milk....

"Although milk is an important drink and an easy way for your child to get calcium and Vitamin D into his diet, it is usually best to encourage your kids to drink plain white milk. Adding chocolate flavoring just gives your child unnecessary sugar and calories. If your child won't drink plain milk, you might offer alternative sources of calcium before jumping to flavoring his milk with chocolate, as it is usually difficult to get kids to later go back to drinking plain milk once they start drinking chocolate milk."

Dr. Alan Greene: Chocolate Cow (DrGreene.com)
"Parents are often reluctant to let their children drink too much chocolate (or otherwise flavored) milk, concerned that this will give their kids too much sugar or fat. Actually, a glass of flavored milk contains less sugar than many juices, fruit drinks, or sodas. Furthermore, a University of Vermont study published in the June 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association culled very interesting information from the from USDA's large Continuing Survey of Food Intakes of Individuals (CSFII). Children who drink flavored milk are more likely to meet the calcium requirements than their peers, and no more likely to have greater sugar or fat intake."

Nutrition Experts Applaud Chocolate Milk As Good-For-You Treat (eMaxHealth.com)

"Chocolate milk may be one answer to help curb the excessive consumption of nutrient-void soft drinks, which some experts say is a major contributor to childhood obesity in this country. Studies have shown that kids who drink flavored milk tend to drink fewer sweetened soft drinks and fruit drinks, which are the No. 1 source of calories and added sugars in a child's diet.

"Children ages 9 and up who consume more milk -- including chocolate milk -- instead of soft drinks not only have nutritionally superior diets, but they also tend to weigh less than kids who drink more sugary sodas and little milk, according to recent research."


Dietitians of Canada: Chocolate Milk for Toddlers

"Chocolate milk provides the same 15 essential nutrients as white milk. With no more sugar than a glass of unsweetened fruit juice, and no more caffeine than a cup of decaffeinated coffee, chocolate milk made with fresh cows' milk is an excellent choice. Satisfy your urge for chocolate with a glass of chocolate milk. It's a low fat, nutrient -rich choice.

Food Guide Recommended Daily Servings of Milk Products:
Preschoolers: 2 cups or 500 mL of white or chocolate milk and one more Milk Product serving such as: yoghurt 1/3-3/4 cup or 75-175"

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

As parents, we play a key role in teaching our children what is normal and what is to be expected. We make juice a staple in the diets of our babies and toddlers, and from there, for many parents, it's a short jump to "fruit drinks" and sodas. It's no surprise that we now have to offer sweetened milk in order to get kids to drink enough milk.

Anonymous said...

What about the lead content of chocolate milk? When the FDA (supported by the WHO) lowered the allowable amount of lead in food from .5 ppm to .1 ppm in January of 2006, chocolate milk was one food that was over the .1 ppm allowable limit. Do you really want your child drinking this every day at school?

Anonymous said...

My 6 year old has terrible teeth and her sugar intake - though previously never excessive - has been reduced to almost nil. No juices, no cookies, no sweet yoghurts, and even - to reduce acid erosion - no fruit without accompanying cheese (which she hates and won't touch). On the other hand, she has suddenly developed a dislike for unflavoured milk and I am struggling to keep up the calcium intake, more important for her than ever. The dentist has banned chocolate milk as being one of the worst things for kids' teeth......I'm struggling to find a healthy, natural solution besides calcium supplements.

Frank Ryan said...

Hi, I'm in Burlingame, CA and our kids are also being served chocolate milk daily. I am on our school districts wellness committee and we have suggested pulling chocolate milk. We were overruled. I can't believe our educated school districts are allowing it. The sugar content is WAY too high for young children. Are your schools still serving chocolate milk?
Linda Ryan

Anonymous said...

All 3 of my girls prefer white milk. They are 6, 8 and 10. They eat lunch in the school cafeteria each day and with their lunch they get 1% milk. I have never offered them chocolate milk, so they have never desired it. They are happy and healthy.

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