Chocolate Milk in the Lunch Line

Baby steps.  Our school offers chocolate milk and 2% white milk.  Picture this.
Scene 1: Chocolate milk primarily in sight, a few white milks to the side on the lunch line.  Observed chocolate milk being placed on kids trays automatically.  Some kids even said "no, white please" and the milk would be changed out.
Scene 2: Chocolate milk neatly stacked in a milk crate and a handful of white milks laying in disarray next to it.  White or chocolate asked.
Scene 3:  A large rectangular crate with 2 rows of chocolate milk and 8 rows of white milk lined up.  White or chocolate asked.

This is a true story! Baby steps has changed the way the milks are presented at our school and it only took a little nudging.

How about scene 4:  Only white milk lined up neatly in the crate and chocolate milk taking a back seat prompting students to have to ask for chocolate milk.

There are different kinds of chocolate milk.   Eight ounces of whole chocolate milk contains approximately 210 calories, reduced fat milk contains between 160-170 calories which is nearly as many calories and sugar as a 12-oz. can of Coke and skim milk contains 160 calories approximately per eight ounces.  Encouraging students to consume chocolate milk by placing it front and center at check out is contibuting to a childhood obesity crisis.  Chocolate milk should be meant as a treat.

Calcium and vitamin D are an essential part of our kids daily requirements and milk offers this.  One worry is how many kids in the lunch line simply won't drink milk if we remove the chocolate flavor?   If white milk is the readily available option, I think kids will take it eventually.  The chocolate milk can be available, just not front and center, you know the saying, "Out of sight, out of mind".  This is a good habit we can encourage in early childhood as a whole.  Or, maybe we propose to remove chocolate milk altogether for 4 of the 5 school days and offer it only as a treat on the 5th?  Our school is required to offer 2 beverage choices.  I wonder if the wording says anything about how it should be displayed?

Jaime Oliver is taking a stand against chocolate milk in school lunch programs through his food revolution and new show.  Have you seen it yet?

Lake County Food Revolution

Jaime Oliver's Food Revolution 2nd season picks up again!  This is in light of the news that the superintendent of the LAUSD is offering to recommend to the board to remove flavored milk from schools and seemingly has agreed to work with Jamie, a big turn-around from the 1st two episodes.  Catch it Friday, June 3rd at 9pm ET/8pm CT.

If you’ve missed either of the first two episodes, they will be airing back-to-back on Friday May 27th at 8:00 and 9:00 pm ET (7 and 8 CT) or you can watch them on http://www.abc.com/!
Check your local listings for time.  Central time, it's on at 7:00.  ABC.


My family recently started Lake County Food Revolution in support of Jaime Olivers revolution and healthy eating both at home and at school.  You can find it here .  We invite you to join our page and welcome your comments, recipes, suggestions, etc.  We are located in Northern Illinois but have no boundaries.  Everyone is welcome.

Support Healthier School Lunch

You can help support healthier school meals. I just took action on an issue that I consider very important. I urge you to take action yourself and spread the word!  Implementation of the new USDA school meal standards will result in more nutritious school meals.

To take action on this issue, click on the link below:

https://secure2.convio.net/cspi/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=1131&JServSessionIdr004=yxzvsxbmn8.app246b

Jaime Oliver vs. Chocolate Milk

I recently started a food revolution and joined the hundreds already involved in Jaime Olivers Food Revolution. One of my goals is to remove chocolate milk from the lunch line. Sit back, relax, and take a look at the funny and informative video.