A Naturally Nutrient-Rich Choice
With calcium and eight other essential nutrients, flavored milks offer the same great nutrient-rich package as white milk. Today’s milk is offered in a variety of flavors such as orange cream, strawberry, vanilla, and of course, chocolate. Kids are flavor cravers and are more likely to drink milk when it’s flavored. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recognize that small amounts of sugar added to nutrient dense foods, such as low-fat milk products, may increase a person’s intake of such foods by enhancing palatability of these products.
Research shows that children who consume flavored milk have greater total milk intake, less soft drink and fruit drink intake, compared with children who do not drink flavored milk.
Check out the following downloadable resources flavored milk plays in overall nutrition.
Milk Facts: A Science-Based PowerPoint
- When flavored milk leaves the lunchroom, essential nutrients leave with it. The milk students drink is the milk that makes them healthy. This new science-based PowerPoint on flavored milk’s role in children’s diets is designed as a tool for school nutrition professionals to use with staff, parents and administrators. This PowerPoint is available by contacting Sarah Garrison at sgarrison@westerndairyassociation.org
- Click here to view
Fact Sheets and Copy Masters
- Top 5 Reasons to Raise Your Hand for Flavored Milk
- Flavored Milk FAQ’s
- Environ Fact Sheet
- Milk’s Unique Nutrient Package
- Dairy and School Wellness
- Fast Facts About High Fructose Corn Syrup
- Sugar-Facts
- Added Sugars and Nutrition in Beverages
Research Articles and Reviews
- The Impact on Student Milk Consumption and Nutrient Intakes from Eliminating Flavored Milk in Schools
- Flavored Milk in Perspective (National Dairy Council, September 2009)
- Drinking Flavored or Plain Milk Is Positively Associated with Nutrient Intake and Is Not Associated with Adverse Effects of Weight Status in US Children and Adolescents (Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2008)
- American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement: Soft Drinks in Schools, 2004
- Added Sugars and Diet Quality in US Children (Journal of Adolescent Health, 2004)
- Children Who Avoid Drinking Cows Milk are at Increased Risk for Pre-pubertal Bone Fractures (Journal of American Dietetic Association, 2004)
- The Nutritional Consequence of Flavored-Milk Consumption by School-Aged Children and Adolescents in the US (Journal of American Dietetic Association, 2002)
- Children Health Paradox (2002 National Dairy Council)

