Chocolate Milk: Worth the Extra Calories?

A couple of years ago when my son was in preschool he had the option of choosing chocolate milk or non-flavored milk to drink with his snack. He was excited about the chocolate milk, but I didn’t want my son consuming the unnecessary calories and extra sugar.  I told myself not to be overly concerned with this issue; after all it was only three days a week.  But it still bothered me because my son gladly drinks white milk, but if given a choice he’ll opt for the sugary, higher-calorie chocolate variety every time.

Then he started school full-time and was drinking chocolate milk 5 days a week.  Now I was more concerned.  I wondered, though, if I was the only parent who thought children shouldn’t be drinking this much chocolate milk. I didn’t want to put my foot down and forbid my son from drinking chocolate milk, but I did explain to him that chocolate milk is O.K. for a treat sometimes, but white milk is healthier overall. 

I finally convinced him to try drinking chocolate milk every other day instead.  It worked for a while.  Weeks later, however, when I asked him if he was still keeping up with the “every other day” schedule, he said he’s been drinking white milk every day now because a classmate told him he can’t switch back and forth. 

Even though I had talked to the teacher and knew otherwise, I decided not to tell my son.  I’m happy that he’s drinking white milk and the fact that he thinks he has to – by a rule not imposed by me – works out well.  I tried to ease his disappointment by telling him it’s O.K. that he has to drink white milk in school because now when we go to a restaurant he can have chocolate milk as a special treat.  Fortunately he seems fine with that. 

After coming across an article on EverydayHealth.com, I was glad to find out I’m not alone in my dislike of chocolate milk being offered in school.  In the article, Joy Bauer, RD, a health and nutrition expert for the Today Show, explains that it’s not healthy for kids to be served chocolate milk daily in school. Low-fat chocolate milk contains an extra 60 calories and an extra 12 grams of sugar compared to low-fat white milk. Over time those calories add up.

For children who don’t like white milk and may otherwise miss out on the necessary vitamins and calcium found in milk, Bauer recommends having them drink water with their lunch at school and allow them to have one serving of chocolate milk per day at home.  That way you can control the type of milk and chocolate that’s used, making the drink a healthier version than what’s offered in school.

According to another article – this one in the Washington Post – many formulations of chocolate milk being served in schools across the country actually have more calories ounce for ounce than Coke!  One person quoted in the article went so far as to make this comparison: a child getting their calcium intake by drinking chocolate milk is like a child getting a serving of fruit by eating apple pie.  I thought that was an interesting way to look at it.

I hope my son will continue to drink white milk at school next year as well, but I have another son who will be starting Kindergarten in the fall and I know I’ll be going through this all over again with him.