Barrington fifth-graders win fight to bring back chocolate milk

What began as a school lesson in good nutrition has expanded to include democracy, diplomacy and community activism as well.

Unhappy about the year-old ban on flavored milk at lunchtime, fifth-graders Haley Morris, Lizzy Hucker and Ivy Moore, of Roslyn Road School, took up the cause and negotiated a compromise with Barrington Unit District 220 officials.

Through January, all 10 of the district's elementary and middle schools will experiment with Flavored Milk Fridays to see if they increase overall milk consumption.

The ban on flavored milk was based on research that its higher sugar content contributed to childhood obesity.

But as Haley pointed out, the prohibition led many students simply to throw out the 2-percent or skim white milk they were required to take.

Armed with a petition signed by classmates last spring, the girls took their case to Superintendent Tom Leonard in early August. He found their arguments persuasive.

"If you get skim milk for them ... it isn't better for them if it's in the garbage," he said. "The kids may have understood some things we weren't noticing."

Chocolate and strawberry milk proved popular among students Friday. Officials will collect unused milk this fall to see how the consumption of flavored milk compares to white.

Classmates were appreciative of the girls' efforts.

"They say, 'Thank you. It's great to have it back,'" Lizzy said.

At a table of 10 boys downing chocolate milk, only two said they'd even sipped any white milk earlier in the week.

"I just drank out of the drinking fountain after lunch," Bryce Tabel said.

"I think it's good that the school listens to us," Addison Lubert said.

Roslyn Road Principal Paul Kirk said he was impressed with the girls' initiative and the adult approach they took in asking for a compromise first.

Haley's mother, Rebecca Morris, said it was rewarding to see Haley turn a disappointment into a positive change.

"I think she saw the power behind what one, two or three people can do," Morris said. "It was quite an experience for her to see the administrators jot down notes when she talked."

Other school nutrition experts believe the girls' activism has put District 220 back on the right track.

Ruth Jonen, retired food service director for Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211 and School Nutrition Association past president, said the extra sugar in flavored milk isn't enough to erase its calcium and vitamin D benefits. Anything to get students to choose milk over carbonated soda is justified, she said.

"It's so important for children to have milk, and if they're not drinking it unless it's flavored, that's a losing proposition," Jonen said. "If we're looking at a beverage culprit for childhood obesity, milk is not it."

Ellen Wolff, supervisor of health services for Naperville Unit District 203, said her district banned all drinks with high fructose corn syrup about four years ago. But when officials realized that would include flavored milk, they made it an exception to encourage milk consumption.

"Pop is the devil, really," Wolff laughed. "But then, everything in moderation."

Haley Morris said her research last year uncovered many surprises, including that the juice made available to students allergic to milk contained a high amount of sugar as well.

"Apple juice had 36 grams of sugar, which is more than pop," she said.

In the past two years, District 220 officials have made several nutrition policy changes. They've stopped offering soda and fried foods, introduced fruit and vegetable bars, begun using only whole-grain breads and banned cupcakes and similar treats from class parties.

Of all these changes, district spokesman Jeff Arnett said only the elimination of flavored milk has triggered a counterproposal.