Question: How can flavored milk be good for kids when it has so much sugar? From the labels, it looks like both flavored milk and soda have about the same amount of sugar.
Answer: Actually, ounce for ounce, soda contains about twice as much added sugar as milk. A 10-ounce container of flavored milk provides about 32 -34 g of “Total Sugar” compared to about 32 g of “Total Sugar” for 10 ounces of cola. However, about half of the sugar in the flavored milk is naturally occurring lactose, whereas all the sugar in soda is added sugar. And, unlike sodas and sweetened fruit drinks, flavored milk has the same excellent nutrient profile as white milk, providing significant amounts of calcium and eight other essential nutrients. In fact, a study at the University of Vermont found that children who consumed more than 6 – 8 ounces of flavored milk products had better diets than children who regularly drank sodas and sweetened fruit drinks, and they consumed fewer sugars and saturated fats.
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