Some say it’s too sugary. Others say it’s a healthy treat. What do you think?
Jacob is 10. He eats the same lunch every school day. It’s a turkey sandwich and a bag of chips from home. He also buys a carton of chocolate milk. But his days of drinking chocolate milk at school could end soon. His school might stop selling it.
Jacob is 10. He eats the same lunch every school day. It’s a turkey sandwich and a bag of chips from home. He also buys chocolate milk. But his days of drinking it at school could end soon. His school might stop selling it.
art by R.J. Matson
Packed With Sugar
Thousands of schools around the U.S. have kicked chocolate milk off their menus.
Why? Some health experts say it’s bad for kids.
Chocolate milk is packed with sugar. Just one small carton can contain six teaspoons of the stuff. That’s almost as much as a pack of M&M’s has.
Having some sugar each day is OK. But having too much can cause a person to gain weight. This can lead to health problems.
Some schools have already banned sugary drinks like soda and fruit punch. Chocolate milk should be next, some people say.
Schools around the U.S. have kicked chocolate milk off their menus.
Why? Some health experts say it’s bad for kids.
Chocolate milk is full of sugar. Just one small carton can contain as much sugar as a pack of M&M’s.
Having some sugar each day is OK. But having too much can cause a person to gain weight. This can lead to health problems.
Some schools have already stopped selling sugary drinks like soda and fruit punch. Chocolate milk should be next, some people say.
Good for the Bones
But should chocolate milk really go down the drain? It is sugary. But it also has many useful nutrients. Nutrients help our bodies grow.
Calcium is one of these nutrients. It makes bones strong. One small carton of milk can give kids nearly one-third of the calcium they need each day. Milk also contains protein. Protein helps the body build muscle. Many kids don’t get enough of these nutrients.
Some people say kids should drink plain milk instead of chocolate milk. It has far less sugar. But studies show that kids who love chocolate milk don’t want plain milk. In schools where chocolate milk is banned, most kids don’t drink any milk. Some switch to fruit juice. And that can have just as much sugar as chocolate milk.
Experts agree that chocolate milk isn’t as bad as many junk foods. Dina Rose is an expert in children’s nutrition. “It does have some value. But think of it as a special treat, like cookies,” she says.
That makes sense to Jacob. He plans to switch to water. And when it’s time for a sweet treat, he says, “I’d rather have a bag of M&M’s!”
But should this milk really go down the drain? It is sugary. But it also helps our bodies grow.
Chocolate milk has calcium (cal-SEE-um). Calcium makes bones strong. One small carton of milk can give kids nearly one-third of the calcium they need each day. Milk also contains protein (pro-TEEN). Protein helps the body build muscle.
Some people say kids should only drink plain milk. It has far less sugar. But studies show that kids who love chocolate milk don’t want plain milk. If they can’t have chocolate milk, some kids switch to fruit juice. And that can have just as much sugar.
Experts agree that chocolate milk isn’t as bad as many junk foods. Dina Rose studies children’s nutrition (new-TRISH-un). “It does have some value. But think of it as a special treat, like cookies,” she says.
That makes sense to Jacob. He plans to switch to water. And when it’s time for a sweet treat? “I’d rather have a bag of M&M’s!” he says.
Can't Miss Teaching Extras
San Francisco banned chocolate milk from schools back in 2017. This article explains how students there reacted (spoiler: not very well!).
Have students research how much sugar is in a serving of their favorite drink (and then make sure they know that a typical drink bottle contains at least two servings). From there, have them create a bar graph illustrating each drink’s sugar content.
Have your students guess which foods contain hidden sugar. The answers--bread, ketchup, flavored yogurt, even soup--will surprise them! Share more sugar facts with this infographic.
1. PREPARING TO READ
Have students preview the text features. Ask:
What is the topic of the debate? (Prompt students to use the debate title and the heading on the chart as clues.)
What are the two opinions people might have about this topic?
2. READING THE DEBATE
Depending on the reading level of your students, read the debate as a class or break the class into groups.
Have students read the debate a second time. Prompt them to highlight evidence supporting each side as they come across it. Using two different colors of highlighters would be useful here.
3. DISCUSSING
As a class or in groups, have students discuss:
Which opinion has the best evidence to support it?
Is one side stronger than the other? Why?
What is your opinion? What evidence helped you form your opinion?
For more advanced readers: Do you think the author has an opinion on this issue? What is your evidence?
4. WRITING
Have students complete the chart in the magazine or our full-page printable chart.
Guide students to write an essay on the debate topic, using the chart they filled out.
5. CHECK COMPREHENSION
Have students complete our comprehension quiz.
