Monday Message - Milk Questions Answered

Is your child drinking enough milk? If not, they may be missing out on key nutrients to keep their bones and body strong. View the Kids Eat Right Article for more information.

Should I offer my child chocolate milk? Only if they will not drink the plain milk. Remember the power that a role model can hold!  If Mom and Dad are drinking regular milk with meals on a daily basis, kids will eventually follow suit. Another option would be to offer chocolate milk as snacks/drinks throughout the day instead of sugary drinks/juices while providing regular milk at meal times.

What type of milk does your family consume? There are many milk options available for our families but it is important to know some background behind each type.  Check out my milk tips below:

• Cow's Milk - Pasteurized Milk that has been consumed for centuries. High in protein, vitamins and minerals, this milk is one of the closest alternatives we have to human milk and provides a base for our cereal, cheese products, beverages and many many uses in recipes.
• Raw Milk - Unpasteurized and considered dangerous due to the potential of harmful bacteria passed on by animals, animal byproducts or in processing. If the conditions are controlled and sanitary, this milk is safe to drink or use to make milk products.
• Goat's Milk - Nutritional content is very similar to Cow's Milk and may be used as an alternative to Cow's Milk.
• Breast Milk - Natural Form of Nutrition for infants as long as mom is eating adequate nutrition.
• Chocolate Milk - Sugar added to Cow's Milk.
• Almond Milk - Often flavored with sugar, this milk is low in protein and vitamins/minerals and may be used in recipes that call for milk but would not be a nutritional substitute for regular milk.
• Soy Milk - Lower in protein than Cow's Milk, but may be substituted for regular milk on a daily basis. However, the upper limit on soy protein is 25 grams per day which would be nearly three servings per day - if no other soy products were consumed - this is not an easy feat considering soy protein is added to many many foods.
• Rice Milk - Similar to Almond Milk, this milk has very little nutritional value and is only recommended to be used in recipe that call for regular milk. Watch the sugar in flavored rice milk!
• Skim or Fat Free - Widely recommended to reduce cholesterol and disease risk as the fat has been "skimmed" off the milk to produce a thinner liquid without any fat content.
• 1/2%, 1%, 2% - Varying levels of fat content in milk which range from 1g to 5g of fat per 8 ounces.
• Whole Milk - 3.25% Fat = 8g of fat per 8 ounces.
• Lactose Free Milk - Lactase Enzymes have been added to Cow's Milk to aid in the digestion of the natural milk sugar (lactose).
• Organic Milk - Cow's Milk that is free of synthetic hormones, potentially contaminated feed and medications.

Registered Dietitian Recommendation:  Breast Milk until at least one year old & Organic 2% Milk thereafter.