Milk — whether white or chocolate — plays a vital role in helping people, especially children, get the nutrients they need for good health. Flavored milk is a terrific way for kids, teens and adults to enjoy milk and get the same nine essential nutrients found in milk — nutrients that can help kids grow into strong and healthy adults.
Milk, including flavored, is the number-one food source of three of the four nutrients the Dietary Guidelines for Americans say both adults and children need to consume more of — vitamin D, calcium and potassium. Research shows that children who drink flavored milk drink more milk overall, have better quality diets, do not consume more added sugar or fat and are just as likely to be at a healthy weight compared to kids who do not consume flavored milk. In fact, flavored milk contributes only 4% of the added sugars to children’s diets ages 2-18, while soft drinks and non-carbonated sweetened beverages contribute about 46% of the added sugars.
Flavored milk is a sterilized drink made from milk and added flavoring. Flavored milk is another way to benefit from milk’s nutrient content. It’s particularly enjoyed by kids. Its great taste promotes consumption and its consumption provides them with the essential nutrients they need to grow. According to major human nutrition and health and dairy product studies (Best of 2013, Special on Milk), flavored milk drinkers had significantly higher nutrient intake and their calcium requirements were better met.