Flavored Milk Consumption in School-Age Children
Though seemingly a small detail, flavored milk can be a BIG tool in positively affecting student nutrition and supporting your wellness policy. It's fun and it tastes good. But it's also very nutritious. Like all milk, flavored milk is a rich source of calcium, protein, vitamin D, vitamin A, vitamin B12, phosphorus, riboflavin, potassium and niacin. Milk's nutrients, especially calcium, are necessary for developing strong bones and teeth. Each 8-ounce serving of milk — white or flavored — provides 300 mg of calcium, about one-third to one-fourth of the daily calcium requirement for children. And studies are confirming flavored milk's role in a healthy school environment. Read more below.
Kids Benefit When Flavored Dairy Products Replace Sodas and Fruit Drinks
A study published in the January 2004 issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health showed a positive effect on children's diets when they choose flavored milks and yogurts instead of sodas and sweetened drinks. The study found that children ages 6 to 17 who consumed more than 6 to 8 ounces of flavored dairy products, such as milks, yogurts, ice creams and puddings, each day had better diets than those who regularly drank sodas and sweetened fruit drinks.
Frary, C.D. et al. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2004; 34:56-63.
Flavored Milk Drinkers More Likely to Meet Calcium Requirements
A study out of the University of Vermont found that children who drank flavored milk were more likely to meet their daily calcium requirements compared to their peers. The flavored milk drinkers consumed more calcium, without increasing their total added sugar or fat intake. Children and teens who drank flavored milk consumed more milk overall.
Johnson, R.K. et al. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 2002; 102:853-56.
School Milk Benefits Kids' Overall Nutrition
School vending is a very important way to deliver milk and calcium to kids and teens.
Studies demonstrate that when children drink milk at lunch, they have a higher intake of several critical nutrients, including calcium, zinc and vitamin A. In one study, only those children drinking milk at lunch were able to meet their daily calcium requirement.
Johnson, R.K. et al. Journal of Child Nutrition and Management. 1998; 2:95.
