The Nutritional Role of Flavored and White Milk in the Diets of Children

• Published in: The Journal of school health Vol. 83; no. 10; pp. 728 - 733
• Main Authors: Nicklas, Theresa A., O'Neil, Carol E., Fulgoni III, Victor L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Wiley Periodicals, Inc 01.10.2013; Wiley-Blackwell; Wiley; American School Health Association; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adolescents; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Calcium; Child; child and adolescent health; Child Health; Child nutrition; Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Child, Preschool; Children; Childrens health; Consumption; Dairy Products - analysis; Diet; Diet - statistics & numerical data; Dietary Sucrose - analysis; Dietetics; Dining Facilities; Elementary School Students; Energy; Feeding Behavior; Female; Flavored milk drinks; Food; Food Service; Food Services - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Milk; Milk - statistics & numerical data; Milk consumption; Miscellaneous; Nursing; Nutrition; nutrition and diet; Nutritional aspects; Nutritive Value; Prevention and actions; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; School food services; School lunches; School lunchrooms, cafeterias, etc; Secondary School Students; Taste; United States; Vitamin A; United States > US; Human; milk consumption; Nutrition; child and adolescent health; Dairy product; nutrition and diet; Feeding; Diet; Food intake; Adolescent; Child; Public health; Milk
• ISSN: 0022-4391; 1746-1561
• DOI: 10.1111/josh.12087

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Some schools are removing flavored milk from lunchrooms based on the perception that consumption has a negative impact on the overall dietary quality. The goal of this study was to assess the contribution of flavored and white milk in the diets of children. METHODS Intake data from children 2 to 18 years (N = 7332) participating in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003‐2006 were obtained from in‐person 24‐hour dietary recalls. Mean ± standard error of energy and nutrients were determined. RESULTS Flavored and white milk contributed, respectively, 2‐6% of total energy consumed, 3‐12% of saturated fats, 1‐3% of sodium, and 4‐0% of added sugars. The percent contribution of white milk to intakes of vitamin A (21%), vitamin D (54%), calcium (29%), potassium (17%), magnesium (12%), and phosphorus (19%) exceeded 10% of total intake. Consumption of flavored milk contributed a smaller percentage to total intake. For total dairy consumed the percent contribution to intake of vitamins A and D, calcium, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus ranged from 19% to 68%. CONCLUSIONS Milk has an important nutritional role in the diets of children. More research is needed to understand the barriers to consuming milk and potential unintended nutrition consequences of removing flavored milk from the lunchrooms.