Flavored Milk! An Important Nutrient-Rich Choice « Back
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Flavored milks are nutrient-rich and provide the same nutrients and benefits as unflavored milk.
Milk - whether white or flavored - plays a vital role in helping Americans, especially children, meet critical nutrient needs as identified in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines (DGA). Flavored milk contains the same nine essential nutrients as white milk - calcium, potassium, phosphorous, protein, vitamins A, D and B12, riboflavin and niacin. According to the 2010 DGA, milk is the number one food source of three of the four nutrients that both children and adults are lacking and need to consume more of - Vitamin D, calcium, and potassium.
While there are some added sugars, flavored milk drinkers don't have higher intakes of added sugars or total fats than children who do not consume flavored milk. And, they have higher intakes of calcium. Furthermore, the DGA recognize that small amounts of sugar added to nutrient-dense foods, such as reduced-fat milk products, may increase a person's intake of such foods by enhancing palatability of these products, thus improving nutrient intake without contributing excessive calories.
Recent media attention has parents and food service professionals alike taking a closer look at flavored milk in schools. In response, MilkPEP has completed an in-depth study that shows how students' consumption and nutrition are negatively impacted when schools limit or eliminate flavored milk. See executive summary or www.milkdelivers.org for full study and additional resources.
New Flavored Milk Study Video
Utilize this video to spread the word of flavored milk's significance to students.
For more information on the role of flavored milk in overall nutrition, view this resource from National Dairy Council
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