Did you know the flavored milk served in schools has 13 essential nutrients and is formulated to meet specific USDA nutrition requirements for schools? It is not the same as flavored milk sold in grocery stores and convenience stores.

Flavored milk in stores often has a higher fat content, higher added sugar content, and a larger serving size. Often people are confused about the naturally occurring lactose in all milk, flavored and non-flavored; this is not the same as added sugar.  

Most added sugar in children’s diets comes from other sources such as sweetened beverages (soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, fruit-flavored beverages, etc…) that also don’t provide the nutrition milk provides. 

The Oregon Department of Education Child Nutrition Programs created this easy-to-read document about flavored milk served in Oregon schools:

Additionally, Milk provides 13 essential nutrients, like high-quality protein, calcium, vitamin D and more.