Parents and school foodservice directors know how important it is to keep kids drinking milk into adulthood, but as children move into adolescence, their milk intake often decreases while their soft drink consumption doubles. High consumption of sugar-laden drinks leads to a variety of health concerns causing schools, restaurants, and other public eating venues to re-evaluate menu and product offerings.
Flavored milk is a strong strategy to prevent the switch and move kids towards healthier selections. Kids love choice…great flavors, fun packages, different sizes, and fat levels make it easier for kids to choose milk over less nutritious beverages. Students of every age love flavored milk and not only will they drink more milk if flavor options are available, they will come through the meal line to receive it, increasing their chance for balanced nutrition. Greater milk consumption, and the boosted nutrition it adds to the school lunch program, nets in healthier students, grateful school personnel, and happier parents.
Studies confirm the nutritional contributions of flavored milk and the current evidence to support its role in kids’ diets.
The added sugar in flavored milk totals less than 2% of total added sugar in a teen’s diet, while sodas and fruit drinks provide more than 50%. While flavored milk contains additional calories compared to unflavored milk (about 60 more calories per serving), these extra calories can be offset by consuming less higher-calorie foods or soft drinks. Research indicates that teens who drink flavored milk tend to drink fewer sugary sodas and fruit drinks, which are the primary source of calories in their diet. (Murphy M. et al. Beverages as a source of energy and nutrients in diets of children and adolescents. The FASEB Journal 2005; A434, 275.4.).
As well, children who drink flavored milk have nutritionally superior diets. Children who consume sweetened dairy products, including flavored milks, get more calcium, consume less added sugars and saturated fat and are more likely to meet recommendations for calcium, foliate, and iron compared to those who consume sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and fruit drinks (Frary CD, et al. Children and adolescents’ choices of foods and beverages high in added sugars are associated with intakes of key nutrients and food groups. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2004; 34:56-63).
Flavored milk is a strong strategy to prevent the switch and move kids towards healthier selections. Kids love choice…great flavors, fun packages, different sizes, and fat levels make it easier for kids to choose milk over less nutritious beverages. Students of every age love flavored milk and not only will they drink more milk if flavor options are available, they will come through the meal line to receive it, increasing their chance for balanced nutrition. Greater milk consumption, and the boosted nutrition it adds to the school lunch program, nets in healthier students, grateful school personnel, and happier parents.
Studies confirm the nutritional contributions of flavored milk and the current evidence to support its role in kids’ diets.
The added sugar in flavored milk totals less than 2% of total added sugar in a teen’s diet, while sodas and fruit drinks provide more than 50%. While flavored milk contains additional calories compared to unflavored milk (about 60 more calories per serving), these extra calories can be offset by consuming less higher-calorie foods or soft drinks. Research indicates that teens who drink flavored milk tend to drink fewer sugary sodas and fruit drinks, which are the primary source of calories in their diet. (Murphy M. et al. Beverages as a source of energy and nutrients in diets of children and adolescents. The FASEB Journal 2005; A434, 275.4.).
As well, children who drink flavored milk have nutritionally superior diets. Children who consume sweetened dairy products, including flavored milks, get more calcium, consume less added sugars and saturated fat and are more likely to meet recommendations for calcium, foliate, and iron compared to those who consume sugar-sweetened beverages like sodas and fruit drinks (Frary CD, et al. Children and adolescents’ choices of foods and beverages high in added sugars are associated with intakes of key nutrients and food groups. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2004; 34:56-63).
