Is Flavored Milk Healthy or Too Sugary?
By stephhicks68
Should Flavored Milk be Banned from Schools?
In the news recently, I have heard about some school districts banning flavored milk (chocolate milk or strawberry milk) from vending machines and hot lunches. The common claim is that there is too much sugar in chocolate milk or other flavored varieties. Some believe that drinking flavored milk leads to childhood obesity or other conditions, including diabetes.
When I first heard this news, my initial thought was, we are "barking up the wrong tree." After all, the USDA just declared pizza sauce as a vegetable! Take a look at the fatty, sugary options offered in school lunches and consider the fact that the vast majority of kids pass up the salad bar and fresh apples in favor of tater tots and hot dogs. These same children often consume many empty calories through drinks - whether juices or soda - either at school, or at home. Doesn't it make sense to encourage children to consume milk, even if there are a few additional grams of sugar and about 20 additional calories per serving when comparing chocolate milk to plain? Given the option to choose chocolate milk, some students may make the choice to consume the only dairy product offered to them all day.
Flavored milk, while containing sugar flavoring, is still a healthy beverage option. Milk is an excellent source of nutrition, filled with calcium, protein and Vitamin A. Yet, when just 10 grams of sugar are added to a standard 1/2 pint serving, some people are now up in arms complaining that chocolate or strawberry milk is not healthy.
Should we Have Flavored Milk in Schools?
Arguments in Favor of Banning Flavored Milk
Schools are looking to improve menus across the board. Revised recipes have reduced the fat, added fiber, worked in additional vegetables and cut down on sugar.
The logical question is, why not make similar changes to beverage options?
Some experts believe that, by offering only plain milk, students will learn to appreciate the drink without added sugar and calories. With chocolate milk or strawberry milk, you may encourage a sweet tooth to develop or persist. That child may become overweight or obese as a result of consuming too many calories, and not learning to appreciate food and drink that is not sweetened.
Plus, if you want to teach kids about proper nutrition, why would you serve them an otherwise healthy drink that has been altered with the addition of sugar?
Does Flavored Milk Lead to Obesity?
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Arguments Against Banning Flavored Milk
It might be obvious that I am on the side of the arguments against banning flavored milk. And some of my reasoning comes from my own experience growing up. We didn't have chocolate milk, but the difference was between instant milk and whole milk (none of that non-fat/1% stuff!). I would drink cups and cups of whole milk flavored with that delicious creamy fat. But when funds were tight and mom switched to instant milk.... ugh! No thanks!
Today's kids have many more beverage options than we did 20-30 years ago. Juice, soda and even Starbucks beverages often end up in the hands of kids 5-18. A healthier, but still tasty option of chocolate milk or other flavored milk encourages children to reach for a beverage that contains important nutrients, including protein that can help keep them satisfied until the next meal. Apple juice, soda or water cannot do that!
In short, the trade off for a few additional grams of sugar and 15-20 extra calories is that our kids will consume dairy - an important element of a good diet - to build strong bones. If we ban flavored milk from school menus, it is quite possible that some children in the school district will simply choose not to drink plain milk, thereby suffering the elimination of a foundational part of a healthy diet.
Banning Chocolate Milk in Schools?
Nutrition Information for Milk and Flavored Milk
Nutrition Facts Per Serving (1/2 pint)
| Plain Milk (1% Fat)
| Chocolate Milk
| Strawberry Milk
|
|---|---|---|---|
Calories
| 105
| 158
| 178
|
Fat
| 2.42 grams
| 2.5 grams
| 2.28 grams
|
Sugars
| 13 grams
| 24.85 grams
| 31.65 grams
|
Protein
| 8.42 grams
| 8.1 grams
| 7.75 grams
|
Calcium
| 562 mg
| 290 mg
| 228 mg
|
Iron
| .08 mg
| .68 mg
| .15 mg
|
Sodium
| 110 mg
| 152 mg
| 110 mg
|
Vitamin A
| 145 mcg
| 145 mcg
| 132 mcg
|
Vitamin C
| 0 mcg
| 2.2 mcg
| 0 mcg
|
Do you think flavored milk should be banned from schools?
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Read More About Banning Flavored Milk
- What\'s To Love And Loathe About Chocolate Milk? : The Salt : NPR
- Chocolate Milke Banned in L.A.- USATODAY.com
- \'Soda in drag\'? Schools may ban chocolate milk - Health - Diet and nutrition - msnbc.com
- Schools may ban chocolate milk over added sugar - USATODAY.com
- Chocolate milk off school menu in Maple Valley | KING5.com Seattle
- The Fate of Chocolate Milk in Schools [infographic]
- Chocolate Milk Debate Rages in Schools: Is Calcium More Important Than Calories in School Lunches? -
5th Graders Debate Chocolate MIlk
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Comments
I respectfully disagree with Rebecca. The fats in whole milk are good for us. It's the sugar that is the bad guy. Read Good Calories, Bad Calories for the facts. Great hub full of varied content on the topic!
Thank you - both of you - for commenting! I love the differing opinions on flavored milk, and I personally am hoping to read more on both sides before I make up my mind 100%. Cheers, Steph
I say keep the flavored milk! Great hub, thanks!
It probably depends on more than one factor, like how much other sugar is in the diet, etc. My Doctor told me not to touch anything less than 1% but then I tend to have high cholesterol!
Thanks gryphin and rebecca - good point that it probably depends on the child/person! I am diabetic, so would have to choose plain milk. But as a parent, I believe that my own healthy kids would be more likely to drink milk if chocolate was offered! Best, Steph
I am of the opinion that it's better for kids to be drinking flavored milk than no milk at all. Compared to many items regularly served in school lunch, flavored milk is still very healthy. I'm also of the opinion that public schools have much bigger problems to worry about that the type of milk that their students consume.
Randomcreative,
Yes - 100% agreed! And I almost posed that question in the hub about - don't schools have more important things to worry about than whether to ban chocolate milk? Thanks! Steph
All in moderation, I think its fine. Its like a sweet treat, that is how I look at it. I recall having strawberry milk, and of course chocolate milk. Much better than just soda, as there is milk in it and some calcium. As a standard drink with a meal, probably not though. As a fun treat alternative, I think its great. Thanks for sharing the different views, these things are good to think about.
Thanks Oceans, and you make a good point - perhaps schools believe that kids cannot properly moderate their consumption of sweetened beverages, whether soda or milk. When I was growing up, chocolate or strawberry milk was a rare treat at my house. We really loved it! But now, the option is constantly available. Appreciate the comment! Best, Steph
I think that drinking flavored milk in moderation is ok since it's better to drink milk than soda or vanilla latte, for instance. Good topic of discussion and there will always be two sides to this argument. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks anginwu, you are right that there will always be two sides to the argument! Moderation is key, as always. Cheers, Steph
I find all this very interesting. Of course here in South Africa the tuck shops are mostly contracted to private people and they can serve whatever the kinds want. As far as the flavored milk I have my own two cents to add.
I am 60 and when I was in school we had a feeding system where all kids received 250 ml of milk ad one fruit every day. I hated the milk and had to swallow it as fast as possible. Since then I hate milk and I still do not drink any milk or take any milk in my coffee. So from my own perspective you can do more harm than good by trying to force kids to drink plain milk.
My kids had the free choice of flavored or plain milk as they grew up. One is 37 and the other is 41 and they still love there milk and drink a lot of plain milk everyday. So, we can all make our own deductions from that!
Hi Hendrika,
Excellent points - milk is such a nutritious beverage, we should be doing everything we can to encourage children to drink it. As a child, I enjoyed flavored milk. Today, only the plain stuff (2% is my favorite). Thanks for your comments! Best, Steph
Steph, What an intelligent, logical, straightforward summary of the pros and cons of sugary healthy milk in the schools! You do a great job of presenting both sides (even though you own up to being on one vs the other!). In particular, I like the comparative nutritional chart and the videos. You make a great point when you say that sugary healthy milk still is better than none at all.
Thank you for sharing, etc., (always = voted up + all),
Derdriu
Thank you Derdriu,
I was hearing about the debate from my kids in schools. Of course, I have my own opinions, so I thought it would be worth writing a hub. Thanks so much. Best to you as always, Steph
I don't think fats hurt kids like it might older adults and with their bones forming and growing I would think anything beats soft drinks. Sometimes I smell lobbyists around every corner. Great hub.
Right on, Jackie! Totally agreed. Cheers, Steph
I tend to agree that flavored milk is an option that should be offered in schools. Far too many schools sell sodas and overly-sweetened fruit juices. Given the options, I would much prefer my children choose chocolate milk over soda. Even if white milk is an option I know my kids would never get it from a cafeteria, especially since they are used to skim milk at home. Personally, if they are getting enough milk at home, I think water is the best option. My kids mostly brought lunches to school and they mostly included a small water bottle.
Thanks ktrapp, I agree! I encourage my children to drink milk as often as possible, and at our home, chocolate milk (or hot cocoa) is a treat, not a daily offering. We rarely have fruit juices and soda is a very rare treat, but its nice to offer something with nutrients that the kids enjoy. Best to you, Steph
Taking a hard look at all sides of an issue is so important. This hub has generated important comments, as well.
There are issues with common milk products that go beyond whether it is flavored or not, but that's another can of worms.
I was a little surprised at the video comments re HFCS. The jury is still out, but when studies indicate issues such as HFCS possibly creating a resistance to proteins that help us control appetite it's time to give the product an in-depth look before feeding it to children.
Issues like this are complicated, but posts with dialogues like this are helpful. Comments like those from randomcreative and ktrapp really help dissect the issues surrounding the concerns. Good stuff!
Thanks RTalloni,
I do hope that this hub will continue the discussion and debate on flavored milk. I am not 100% decided myself, and I hope that nutritionists and pediatricians will weigh in, as well. Thank you for the comment and contribution! Best, Steph
Very interesting topic. I think if we teach kids how to eat balanced meals and exercise regularly, a little extra sugar in flavored milk will unlikely harm their health. Flavored milk might not be as healthy as plain milk, but still, it's way more nutritious than soda.
Hi Om Paramapoonya,
That is my opinion, too. With 2 teenagers, I am constantly fighting them from drinking soda pop, or even coffee drinks. I would much prefer they drink chocolate milk if they are looking for a treat. Best, Steph
rebeccamealey 5 months ago
I agree that flavored is better than no milk at all...as long as it is low or nonfat. I think the milk fat is the bad guy here. Your Hub was very informative and easy to follow.Voted up and useful