The study, funded by the National Dairy Council, compared nutrient intakes and body measures among 7,557 children and teens drinking flavored milk (with or without plain milk), exclusively plain milk and no milk. Those who included flavored milk in their diets reported higher total milk intakes than consumers of exclusively plain milk while BMI measures of milk drinkers were comparable to or lower than measures of nondrinkers. Access to low-fat or nonfat flavored milk could help children and adolescents meet the recommended intakes of dairy servings, according to the researchers. The researchers said, “Only about one-third to one-half of American children and adolescent boys consume the number of dairy servings recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and fewer than one in five adolescent girls meet the recommendation.”

The researchers conclude: “Findings from this study suggest that consumption of either flavored or plain milk is associated with a positive influence on nutrient intakes by children and adolescents and is not associated with adverse effects on BMI measures.”-American Dietetic Association