HEALTH BENEFITS OF CHOCOLATE MILK FOR KIDS
Chocolate milk is a nutritious snack and has many health benefits for kids – plus,
it tastes great. Drinking flavored milk can actually help kids meet their recommended
daily dairy servings..
According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association,
kids who drink chocolate or other flavored or plain milk consume more nutrients
and have a lower body mass index (BMI) than kids who don’t drink milk.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2006 report on optimizing bone health recommends
consuming low-fat or fat-free flavored milks, cheeses or yogurts containing modest
amounts of added sweeteners to meet calcium recommendations in children and adolescents.
What are the health benefits of chocolate milk?
Flavored milk is simply white cow's milk, with added flavoring and sweetener. The
amount of flavoring and sweetener varies from brand to brand.
Flavored milk is a nutrient-rich beverage providing the same nine essential nutrients
as white milk:
- calcium
- potassium
- phosphorus
- protein
- vitamin D
- vitamin A
- vitamin B12
- riboflavin
- niacin
Milk's nutrients, especially calcium and vitamin D, are necessary for developing
strong bones.
How about the use of high fructose corn syrup in flavored milk?
As with most everything we eat, people can enjoy sweeteners, including high fructose
corn syrup, when consumed in moderation. Flavored milk’s contribution of added sugars
to the diets of kids ages 2-18 is minimal at about 2 percent.
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