Should Schools Take Milk Off the Menu?

By SheSpeaksTeam Jul 24, 2012

We’ve all heard arguments against serving sugary beverages like certain juices and soda to kids. But there’s a new debate heating up over milk consumption and whether or not the white stuff is actually nutritious or just an overhyped health drink.

Time magazine recently reported about a recent petition drawn up by the doctor’s group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) asking the U.S. government to remove milk from the required food group list on the National School Lunch Program. The PCRM argues that since “Milk is high in sugar, high in fat and high in animal protein” any benefits to bone strength are outweighed by the unhealthful content of the beverage.

The PCRM’s stance on milk consumption may be surprising to many who have always lived by the “milk does a body good” motto, but recent research into the real health benefits of this dairy product show that it may not be as healthy as we think.

Studies following both children and postmenopausal women show that whether they drank milk regularly or not both groups had equal chances of suffering fractured bones. President of PCRM, Dr. Neal Barnard explains, “One of the only reasons people talk about dairy, or promote it at all, is because it is going to help build strong bones. Research has now made it abundantly clear that milk doesn’t build strong bone. Whether we are talking about children who are forming bones or older people who are trying to keep their bone integrity, milk doesn’t have a beneficial effect on either one.”

Part of the solution for anti-milk drinkers is for kids to get calcium from other more healthful sources that contain less saturated fats, sugars, and animal protein. But those who argue that milk should stay on the menu at school feel that a lot of kids aren’t getting the nutrients from other foods to begin with and taking away milk would just serve to make matters worse.

What do you think of the current petition to ban milk from school lunches?

Do you feel that milk is an essential part of your family’s diet?

Make a Comment

Comments

by qponqween | Ingram, TX

Jul 26, 2012

If people knew the extreme cruelty and conditions the milk cows suffer, they would not want their children drinking the milk from a cow that was very stressed out. Being well informed is key to making a crucial decision.

by FormosaHoney | Fresh Meadows , NY

Jul 26, 2012

Milke should not be removed, it is a good nutritional bang for the buck. Children need the energy to fuel both growth and non-stop acitivity. At that aga, it's either pasta, rice, potatoe or other forms of energy to fuelt he running about. But do keep it low in suger additives, if at all. Other nutritious options should be included such as soy milk, low-fat milk, almond milk etc.... No bottle water though, what a complete waste of bottling plastic creating massive isalnds of plastic waste, trapping aimals... Gosh once you look into it you will becomes sick to your stomach. Get a pretty designer water bottle and they will love using that.

by Shellyann36 | LILLINGTON, NC

Jul 25, 2012

I wonder what they would replace the milk with? The entire big deal over the lunch programs is getting out of hand. Just like here in NC where the kids healthy sandwich was taken away from her & she was given some processed chicken nuggets!!! I mean really? That is what the new lunch system is all about? More time should be spent on better pay for the teachers and the general school budget for supplies etc.

by Shannelav | BROOKLYN, NY

Jul 25, 2012

I don't want my future children drinking milk and pink slime. Almond milk and packed lunches...

by mama89 | Stone Mountain, GA

Jul 25, 2012

One minute they say something is good then the next its bad. The next thing to go is water.

by CindyF | AMSTON, CT

Jul 25, 2012

lowfat milk is a fine option, also great to have water as well

by MamaRhonda | Bakersfield, CA

Jul 25, 2012

I couldn't drink ONLY water, just like I couldn't drink ONLY milk. For kids especially, this would be boring. I say make have it as an alternative, but don't eliminate it altogether. I think that some "organizations" spend too much time nitpicking and don't see the whole picture.

by justjenne | MALDEN, MA

Jul 25, 2012

Okay even if milk isn't as good as people think, what should we give them? Sugar filled juice? Oh that's right, there's soda in the vending machines anyway!

by Denisegrnk | WORTH, IL

Jul 25, 2012

It should be kept in schools!!! It is still better then soda and juice!!

by noelrocs | LANCASTER, SC

Jul 25, 2012

I feel that people should spend more time contributing to schools, instead of finding things to take away from them. Its completely senseless that they would feed children "pink slime," but want to remove MILK from the menu... that's so dumb, I don't even want to get started on it. The whole "healthy lunch" movement isn't helping anyone and I feel that it's just a distraction from worse things that are going on--budget cuts, inequality for special needs children/learners, laying off teachers, removing good therapy programs from schools etc. A healthy lunch is a good thing, no doubt, but there are many, many more things that need to be focused on & fixed first. What does milk matter in a place filled with processed foods, vending machines, soda, oh, and drugs... To answer the question: Milk is good. We use milk in our home. We also use a lot of almond milk.

by MissELF | CONNERSVILLE, IN

Jul 25, 2012

No, it is an important part of anyone's diet and should be kept in school lunch.

by LMC5209 | Streetsboro, OH

Jul 25, 2012

I don't think it should be eliminated from the menu, but there should be other options as well.

by msfriendly | MONROE, WI

Jul 25, 2012

Milk SHOULD be ONE of the things offered for students. Whatever is offered, it SHOULD NOT have sugar or high fructose corn syrup in it!

by mardel | SCHAUMBURG, IL

Jul 25, 2012

Milk should be available on school lunches but our kids should have the option to have water bottles to drink as well. Not only because not everyone can tolerate diary but during hot summer days the last thing I want to drink is milk.

by lissakaye54 | antioch, CA

Jul 24, 2012

Yes, cow milk should be gone asap. Instead water or rice milk would be a decent alternative. The problem is that the lunch programs have to have a certain fat content bc of the free and reduced lunch kids.