The Facts on Flavored Milk in Schools

Lowfat chocolate milk is the most popular milk choice in schools and not only does it have the same nine essential nutrients as white milk, but with industry reformulations, it’s projected to have less calories and added sugar than in the last five years. Read more of the facts on flavored milk.

Roll over each of the facts below for more information.

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  An 8-ounce serving of milk, flavored or not, gives kids as much vitamin A as two hard boiled eggs, as much calcium as 10 cups of raw spinach, as much phosphorus as 1 cup of kidney beans, as much vitamin D as 3/4 ounce of cooked salmon, as much riboflavin as 1/3 cup of whole almonds and as much potassium as one small banana.

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  The milk industry’s reformulations are projected to result in fat free and lowfat chocolate milks with 38% less added sugar than just five years ago and only 31 calories more than white milk in school.

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  Studies show that children who drink flavored milk meet more of their nutrient needs, do not consume more added sugar or fat and are not heavier than non-milk drinkers. Flavored milk drinkers also drink fewer sodas and fruit drinks.

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  If milk is not consumed with the noon meal, it’s nearly impossible for children to meet their needs for calcium, vitamin D and potassium – which are already identified by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans as limited in children’s diets. Milk is the #1 food source of these essential nutrients. Studies show that children who included milk as part of their noon meal increased their intake of calcium, vitamin A and other nutrients.

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  Studies suggest that when flavored milk is removed from the lunchroom, overall milk consumption goes down and does NOT recover even after two years. This means many children will miss out on the essential nutrients that milk provides.

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