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Chocolate milk in St. Louis Public Schools: What every parent and teacher should know
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Pomegranate Month
Chocolate milk does not cause obesity. In a mad dash to save 10% of our obese adult population, zealots are recommending withholding or restricting children’s intake of certain foods as though they are adults. To add to the confusion, the American Dairy Association has decided to advertise that children will not drink milk unless it is chocolate flavor.
The average child to achieve optimum growth and development must consume between 1,000 and 1400 calories per day. Teenagers may consume between 2,000 and 3,500 calories a day in order to be healthy.
Obesity in children is only 15% of the population. Of those children, 10% will be obese as adults. While it is easy to blame diet and nutrition, and certainly parents should do all they can to encourage children to eat healthy foods and exercise, true obesity is a complex issue and may not respond to just one solution. Studies show that stress from joblessness or poor backgrounds, inability to get healthy foods from food banks, and inadequate housing causes high rates of obesity, diabetes, and asthma.
To assist your child in making healthy choices, visit the USDA food pyramid site for tips, menu plans, and information on combating obesity. Help your child understand what a ‘portion’ is. Most Americans assume a single portion is the amount in a frozen dinner, or plate at a restaurant. To find the actual portion size, read the label. Then check for the number of calories and caloric breakdown. An occasional treat will not cause your child to become obese.
Most children will eat healthy amounts if they not pressured. If your child does not finish his food, do not insist on a clean plate policy before he leaves the dinner table. Children need to learn when they are full, and insisting that they continue to eat when not hungry may lead to eating disorders and obesity. Instead, listen to your child. If he does not like the food, it could be because of allergies or an oncoming cold, or that a child’s sense of smell and taste is at its strongest when we are young. Try the food again later. To make sure children have enough energy for the day, every meal should include protein and carbohydrates from at least one of the following: dark green or orange vegetables, milk, legumes, fruit and whole grains.
For more information:
USDA Food Pyramid offers personalized eating plans, games for kids, materials for educators.
My pyramid for kids
10 tips: Be a healthy role model for your children
Healthy snacks for kids
Halloween and Children with Dietary restrictions by Lorilee E Baumer
Are the lunches offered by St.Louis Public Schools healthy? by Lorilee E Baumer
Industry pushes chocolate milk in schools by Emily Fredrix
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