Parents Petition Brookline Public Schools to Offer Healthy Drink Options

Brookline, MA – Some concerned parents in Brookline are petitioning Brookline Public Schools to offer healthy drink options in its K-8 cafeterias.

The petition was posted on Change.org by Kerri Ann Tester, who lamented the reintroduction of chocolate milk to cafeterias following the departure of the former Food Services Director in Brookline.

So far, the petition has garnered 26 of its 100-signature goal. At the center of the petition is flavored milk, which it asks be banned from K-8 cafeterias altogether.

In addition, Tester's petition asks that sodas and sweetened drinks never be offered in the schools in any capacity; stations for filling up water bottles be installed near the cafeteria to meet demand during lunchtimes; and staff be encouraged to provide students with education pertaining to healthy drink, meal and snack options.

Several parents expressed their concern about the drink options offered to their children in the comments section on Change.org:

"My kids came home and said they had two chocolate milks at lunch everyday and I had no idea it was offered!!! You gotta be kidding me," one wrote.

Another echoed, "This bothered me, too. We made good progress, I thought, with Alden Cadwell. Food was freshly prepared and generally healthier. Why go back?"

A third applauded Tester on taking initiative, "This is a great start and I hope we do even more to curb sugar and fried food offerings in the future. Thanks for starting this!"

Patch reached out to Brookline Food Services Acting Director Teresa Vidette, who was not immediately available for comment.

According to the Food Services menu, flavored skim milk was a drink option for K-8 students during June.

>>>Click here to view the petition.