#13, Grade 5 Sinsheimer Elementary 2755 Augusta St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 April 26, 2017 Dear Ms. Primer, Director of Food Services at SLCUSD, Parents, students and nutrition experts around the world believe that chocolate milk is either ‘bad’ or ‘good’. Schools all over our country are debating about banning chocolate milk or keeping it. Some people think that chocolate milk is not good for children and should not be offered in schools, however, we disagree. Firstly, chocolate milk has many nutrients that are the same as white milk, In addition, it is a healthier drink than most other options that are available, and has even less sugar than soda, Finally, serving chocolate milk at elementary schools does not cost more and could actually save or earn the schools some money. We do not just think we need chocolate milk back in our schools, we know we need chocolate milk back for the good of the children. People question if we should ban chocolate ilk or not, but what many people are missing in this debate is talking about what is in chocolate milk- its nutrients! Chocolate milk has calcium, protein and many different vitamins to help the bones and muscles in the body, According to the nutrition label on Producers milk cartons, chocolate milk has 10% Vitamin A, 2% Vitamin C, 25% Vitamin D, and 30% calcium, Currently, the chocolate milk served at SLCUSD has no fat. According to ABC News, schools that offered only white milk “found a 32-64% in the amount kids drank depending on the grade, in part because they stopped fully draining the carton". Therefore, they were not getting the important nutrients students need, These vitamins and proteins are important for a growing child's body. Some people say that chocolate milk is unhealthy, but chocolate milk has a better reputation than you might believe. Chocolate milk, in correct proportions, is a healthy treat that contains much less sugar then sports drinks and soft drinks. Milk, flavored orNot, is something children and teens must have to grow up to be strong. When chocolate milk is taken from schools, studies have found children drink 35% less milk. According to the New York Times, "The amount of milk consumed in America has fallen to about 20 gallons a year per capita, from 25 gallons in the early 1990's.” When the chocolate milk was removed from the SLCUSD, it seemed to be replaced with Raisels which were sugar-packed raisins. At the bottom of the box, there was always a mix of ‘Sugar and salt which was bad for your teeth, Thankfully they were removed but then they were replaced by Craisins because children seem to want a ‘sweet' option. There are 21 grams of sugar in the Craisins, Chocolate milk is a healthy option for kids, more than people might think! Serving chocolate milk could actually help school districts save money and resources. Many people all over the world think that chocolate milk is really expensive, but research done at Sinsheimer Elementary School shows that both chocolate milk and low-fat milk cost §0 cents. Secondly, if kids get white milk as their only option with their lunch, many will just throw it away and that means that they are wasting resources. In addition to that, these kids are wasting their own money, and their schools money. Chocolate milk is so popular that it could actually be sold for a little more than white milk. If Sinsheimer Elementary School sold chocolate milk and raised the price from 50 cents to 75 cents, we could use that extra funding for fun, nutritional experiences for the students. For example, we could buy foods at the Farmer's Market and have a feast, or we could have a healthy meal made by each class and served to the school or we could have a Junior MasterChef competition. Serving chocolate milk does not cost the district more and might just save resources and provide healthy, fun, food experiences for the students, Although it may occur to you that chocolate milk is sugary, this is not true with the milk that would be served in SLCUSD. Many people say there are extreme amounts of sugar and lots of unhealthy qualities in chocolate milk, But, chocolate milk only has 3 teaspoons of added sugar, whereas sports drinks have § teaspoons of added sugar and soda has 8 teaspoons. In fact, white milk and chocolate milk have so much in common that they both meet the standards of federal law, “It’s better for them to have some milk with some flavoring and a little added sugar than to go without milk,” states Ms.Pratt-Heavner of the School Nutrition Association. Chocolate milk makes sure children get what they need, and they get it through a healthy drink. In conclusion, our school district, along with every school in America should sell chocolate milk because it provides the nutrients kids need, it is a healthy ‘sweet’ and it 's a good and maybe profitable idea. Parents would also be happy if their kids were getting the nutrients they need, so they might buy more chocolate milk which could lead to fun, nutritious food events in the schools. Consider selling chocolate milk 2-3 days a week if you are concemed about the sugar. Remember that middle school students in Our very own schoo! district can buy cookies, pizzas, hot dogs, and ice cream every day! Elementary schools are only asking for a nutritious, delicious sweet - BRING BACK CHOCOLATE MILK! Sincerely, nicole, Ava H Jone cine, York J) Faken, f e yt ida Levrsen, Wel 16h) Reng Cute g Zu rh oe Elf Mies, dommes Sean,’ Hoe M, 5 Ney, CooPer Dear, nsen Tiga Hoa faurtert Dariaia NoWaITS, Jona Tena: Reno Guilford, James Dean, Dayjah Miller, Cooper Dean, Alida Laursen, Noah Turnage, Estella Gray, Jeremy Boudreau, Kaylee Edwards, Zaqarey Martinez, Matthew Perje, Cindy Graciano, Franka Von Bischopinck, Ava Schisler, Isaiah Rivera, Nicole Saavedra, Elias Miles, Juna Johansen liga, Weston Greenelsh, Kai Passanisi, Dylan Ehmke, Parker McCarty, Daniela Navarro, Janet Zhang, Joel Kubacki, Piper Merriam, Hunter Wren, Luke Farmer, Ava Holland and Jill Laursen