Chocolate Milk's Demise

Although I despise milk, I'll admit it has many nutritional benefits crucial to development and health - especially for kids. Milk, skim milk preferably, should be a daily presence for most kids. Chocolate milk however, has no place. I'm a big fan of locally grown food, simple food - in it's natural state - without preservatives, fillers or any other chemical additives. And I hate to break it to ya but brown cows do not, in fact, make chocolate milk. It's loaded with sugar and sodium, exactly what kid's do not need.

Let's compare, shall we, using Kemps.

Kemps - Fat Free Chocolate Skim Milk: 1 serving: 1 cup

Calories 150 Total Carbs 28 g

Total Fat 0 g Dietary Fiber 0 g

Cholesterol 5 mg Sugars 26 g

Sodium 230 mg Protein 8 g

Potassium 0 mg

Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 30% Iron 0%

Kemps - Fat Free Skim Milk: 1 serving: 1 cup

Calories 90 Total Carbs 13 g

Total Fat 0 g Dietary Fiber 0 g

Cholesterol 4 mg Sugars 12 g

Sodium 130 mg Protein 9 g

Potassium 420 mg

Vitamin A 10% Vitamin C 2%

Calcium 30% Iron 0%

The numbers speak for themselves. Fat Free Skim Milk has less of all the terrible stuff (calories, cholesterol, sodium, carbs, sugar) and more of the good stuff (potassium, protein) compared to the Fat Free Chocolate Milk!

I am beyond excited Minneapolis schools have announced they are taking chocolate milk off their menu! Check out this great article with all the details. Other school districts across the country have tried, and because of pressure from parents, kids and staff caved and added it back after only a few months. Minneapolis schools, I believe, will not. They've been phasing it out for some time now - first only removing from the breakfast menu.

Minneapolis is a progressive city - dubbed fittest, most bike friendly, and the #4 place to visit according to National Geographic - not bad! We are leaders and innovators in the national food industry when it comes to supporting sustainable agriculture, locally grown and organic - both in retail and foodservice.

Are you wondering - is chocolate milk really the worst thing offered on school menu's? Absolutely not! But it's disguised as a healthy option - it's milk right? Lot's of calcium? Well - as noted above, it really isn't great. This is a step in the right direction. And if the district can pull off removing such a staple and favorite, it's just a matter of time before the menu continues to change and improve. There will be resistance. But as mentioned in the article, it comes down to doing what's right by the kids.

And most importantly - teaching kids to appreciate flavors other than sweet and instilling life-long healthy eating habits!

{1st Graders I volunteered with last year on Track & Field day}

Okay - stepping down now. Thanks for reading!