The American Academy of Pediatrics, in a policy statement discouraging soft drinks in schools, and in its report on optimizing children's and adolescents' bone health and calcium intakes, encourages consumption of nutritious beverages including lowfat or fat free white or flavored milk, water or real fruit or vegetable juice as healthful alternatives to soft drinks.

"The small amount of extra sugar in chocolate milk should not negate its nutritional benefits," said Bob Murray, MD, FAAP, chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health and author of the soft drinks policy statement. "It's so important for children to not miss out on the milk they need during these critical periods of growth."

The American Dietetic Association states that "by increasing the palatability of nutrient-dense foods/beverages, sweeteners can promote diet healthfulness."  This concept is also supported by the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans which states that enhancing the palatability of nutrient-dense foods, such as milk, may improve nutrient intake.

In addition, the American Heart Association (AHA) supports a positive role for added sugars to help increase intakes of nutrient-rich foods including dairy foods. Specifically, in their scientific statement on Dietary Sugars Intake and Cardiovascular Health, the AHA states, "when sugars are added to otherwise nutrient-rich foods, such as sugar-sweetened dairy products like flavored milk and yogurt ... the quality of children's and adolescents' diet improves, and in the case of flavored milks, no adverse effects on weight status were found."

How Moms Can Raise Their Hands

The nation's dairy farmers and milk processors are asking moms to raise their hands in support of chocolate milk by visiting RaiseYourHand4Milk or the Raise Your Hand For Chocolate Milk page on Facebook.

The sites feature facts and science on chocolate milk's role in children's diets and ask moms to sign the Raise Your Hand petition to show their support and help reinforce the importance of giving kids nutrient-rich options like chocolate milk at home and in school.

Moms visiting RaiseYourHand4Milk can also view video messages from other moms - including pediatricians, dietitians and celebrities - sharing why they are raising their hands in support of chocolate milk.

SOURCE The Milk Processor Education Program; National Dairy Council