Just the Facts!

All milk contains a unique combination of nutrients important for growth & development.  Milk is the #1 food source of 3 of the 4 nutrients of concern identified by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: calcium, vitamin D, and potassium.  It’s important to offer a variety of choices to ensure kids have more opportunities to get the nutrients found in milk, versus choosing drinks with no nutritional value.  Milk, including flavored milk, is packed with 9 essential nutrients that are important for kids’ growth & development.  A study showed eliminating flavored milk from elementary schools resulted in a dramatic drop in milk consumption (35%).  On average, flavored milk offered in schools today contain just 39 more calories than white milk.  Dairy companies have worked with schools to reduce the amount of added sugar by an average of 30%.  Studies show that school-aged children who drink flavored milk actually drink more milk overall, have better quality diets, do not have higher intakes of added sugar or total fat, and are just as likely to be at a healthy weight compared to kids who do not consume flavored milk.

Resources: National Dairy Council & American Dietetic Association