The article below was posted on the Chicago Tribune website. 

Should Chicago schools, like those in Los Angeles, reconsider chocolate milk?

By Monica Eng
1:04 PM CDT, June 15, 2011
The Los Angeles Unified School District is considering a proposal supported by Superintendent John Deasy to eliminate flavored milks from L.A. school cafeterias.

Activist chef Jamie Oliver applauded the decision and expressed his delight with the move  during The Stew's terrific interview with the chef.
With some of the highest childhood obesity levels in the nation, should Chicago Public Schools also consider eliminating from its cafeterias milk sweetened with high fructose corn syrup?
Chocolate milk supporters and the dairy industry say kids won't drink milk if it's not sweet. But I am reminded of what a third-grader said while I was visiting CPS cafeterias earlier this year. When asked why he and all his friends were drinking chocolate rather than white milk, he told me, "We only drink white milk at home."

Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune

My Thoughts:

Really?  I mean, really?  Will eliminating flavored milk in our schools make any kind of impact on childhood obesity?  My guess is...not so much.  

I can say this because out of all of the things that schools serve, flavored milk is one of the healthiest things on the menu.  Plus, we're talking about 1 cup here, not 1 gallon. When was the last time you visited a school cafeteria?  Remember that "all-purpose" patty that was served at least twice a week?  What about all of those tater tots and french fries?  How are any of those things good for children?

So, here's my vote.  Keep the flavored milk (at least for now) and instead, let's work on fixing the real problem....the rest of the foods on the school lunch menu.  

Hats off to programs like the Healthy Schools Campaign Chicago who is doing just that!!!  Check them out at   http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/