Is flavored milk nutritious or not?

It’s the age-old question that has brought confusion to many mothers: Is flavored milk nutritious for my child?

 

Milk is a recommended drink for kids because of its nutrients that are essential to a child’s growth and development. The government, through the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, recommends that parents have their children drink a glass of milk daily. 

 

But, as with most healthy foods, milk is an unpopular choice among kids as they grow older, due to their increased exposure to other flavor options. This pushes some mothers to rely on more appealing choices such as flavored milk. Some, however, remain apprehensive about the concept of flavored milk, unsure if the drink is as nutritious for children.

 

GMA News Online looks into two common concerns about flavored milk—and whether or not they are true:

 

Flavored milk has excessive calories that may lead to obesity

 

Some mothers may be concerned about giving flavored milk to their kids because of the supposed high calorie count the drink contains that, in turn, may lead to obesity. 

 

But according to a 2008 study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, moms should not be alarmed about the calorie content of flavored milk, as the study’s researchers found out that there is no direct connection between the drink and children’s weight.

 

“Intake of added sugars did not differ between flavored milk drinkers and milk nondrinkers,” the study says, “BMI measures of milk drinkers were comparable to or lower than measures of nondrinkers.”

 

Locally, NESTLE’s in-house nutritionist Babylyn Cayabyab also noted the importance of having a balanced diet and variation of food intake to achieve optimal health, “There’s no single food that will provide all vitamins and minerals that you need.” She says it’s important to complement your kid’s milk intake with food items that have other vitamins and minerals also.

 

Flavored milk is not as nutritious as plain milk

 

Because of the variation, flavored milk is believed to differ from its plain counterpart when it comes to its nutrition content. 

 

That is not the case though, as pointed out by U.S.-based International Dairy Foods Association, because flavored milk has the same essential nutrients as white milk—calcium and protein, among others. 

 

Flavored milk selections are aplenty, but Cayabyab confirms that NESTLE has formulated BEAR BRAND Choco Milk Drink to deliver the same nutrients as plain milk—with an added chocolate taste that kids love. She clarifies that “[Flavored milk] still delivers the same goodness of milk. In fact, BEAR BRAND Choco Milk Drink delivers the same Tibay Resistensya Nutrients—iron, zinc, and 100% vitamin C—that we know are present in our powdered milk drink.” The fortified milk drink, Cayabyab adds, makes it a nutritious choice for them.

 

So the next time you pick up a carton of flavored milk, don’t fret. It’s a good alternative to plain milk that your kids will even thank you for.