Flavored Milk
Flavored milk is a popular and convenient ready-to-drink beverage. It is available in a variety of flavors including strawberry, banana, chocolate, and vanilla. It is often packaged in a beverage carton or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottle.
Schools should continue to serve flavored milk as part of meal programs because it can help increase kids’ overall milk consumption. Kids need the nutrients in milk to maintain a healthy weight and grow up strong.
Fruit based flavoured milk
Flavoured milk drinks are a popular and growing category of dairy products. They are often sweetened with sugar, syrups, honey, and fruit concentrate. In recent years, the popularity of these products has been driven by dietary guidelines and consumer demand for low-fat and fat-free dairy products. However, some of these flavored beverages contain high concentrations of added sugar, and the consumption of these drinks is associated with increased rates of obesity and diabetes (29).
Despite getting a bad rap for being lumped in with other sugary foods like cordial and fruit drinks, flavored milks provide important healthy nutrients, such as calcium, protein, and vitamin D. Our dietitians whey in on the milk debate and explain why flavoured milk can be an excellent way to get your kids drinking more milk.
Many flavored milks have a lower overall sugar content than traditional non-flavored milks, but they typically contain added sugar in the form of sucrose. This is a major concern for health professionals, as flavoured milk sugar intake is linked to weight gain, gastrointestinal issues, and poor dental hygiene.
Some flavored milks also contain a significant amount of sodium, which can lead to hypertension in some consumers. Nevertheless, a small number of manufacturers are working to reduce the sodium content of flavored milks. One option is to add natural colourings, such as annatto and beetroot. These colourings help to make the resulting drink look more appealing and may also contribute to flavour. Carrageenans and guar gum are other additives commonly used to increase viscosity in these beverages. Guar gum is a galactommanan polysaccharide with mannose and galactose side groups and can increase viscosity up to eight times more than corn starch. These additives also serve as stabilisers, preventing destabilisation of the product components during shelf-life.
Vegetable based flavoured milk
If you’re allergic to dairy or are trying to reduce your sugar intake, there are plenty of plant-based alternatives. You can find options made from pistachio, oat, hazelnut, almond, coconut, and rice milk. Several brands of non-dairy milk are fortified with vitamins and minerals. They’re also low in calories and lactose-free. You can even make your own plant-based milk at home with some simple ingredients.
It’s important to read labels carefully, as some products have added sugar and may not provide the nutrients you need for a healthy diet. Many plant-based beverages are sweetened with stevia, which has fewer calories than other sweeteners. You can also find unsweetened varieties of these drinks. However, it’s important to choose reduced fat milk, as this will help reduce your overall calorie and saturated fat intake.
In addition to milk, you can also find vegetable-based products such as yoghurt, soya shakes and smoothies. Some are fortified with calcium and vitamin D, which is recommended by the US Dietary Guidelines for adults.
A new plant-based milk called NotMilk has hit the shelves at Whole Foods and other grocery stores in the US. It contains more than a dozen ingredients, including chicory root fibre and coconut oil. It’s also infused with pineapple and cabbage to give it its unique flavour. This drink isn’t for everyone, but it’s a good alternative to traditional milk for those who have trouble digesting dairy or are allergic to it.
Nut based flavoured milk
Nut milks are a popular choice for vegans, due to their high levels of protein and good fats. They can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, including as a beverage and in cooking. However, they are often more expensive than dairy milk and may contain added sugars or thickeners. To reduce costs and avoid additives, making your own nut milk is a great option.
The simplest nut milk is nothing more than nuts blended with water to create a creamy milk-like liquid. People have been creating this type of concoction for centuries, especially in nut-rich areas of the world. Homemade nut milks can also be more nutritious than store-bought versions, as they are not pasteurised and over-packaged. They also offer a chance to experiment with different types of nuts, and can be used in many recipes.
Almond milk is a common choice, as it has a subtle nutty taste and a smooth texture. However, if you want something a little sweeter, try hazelnut milk. It has a distinct flavor and pairs well with chocolate and other sweet foods.
Pistachio milk is another nut-based milk that is less well-known, but it offers a delicious and distinctive nutty flavor. It also contains healthy Omega-3 fats and is a good source of vitamin B6. Other varieties of nut-based milk include cashew milk and hemp seed milk. The latter has a mild flavor and is an excellent source of iron.
Chocolate based flavoured milk
The global market for flavoured milk has grown rapidly over the last few years, with many factors contributing to its growth. A growing population flavoured milk and rising disposable incomes are driving the demand for this beverage. The flavoured milk market also benefits from the fact that it is a nutritious alternative to carbonated drinks and offers a dairy-based source of protein, vitamins, minerals, and carbohydrates.
The main ingredients of a chocolate-based milk are milk, cocoa powder, and sugar or sweeteners. The amount of cocoa powder and sugar used varies between manufacturers, but is usually around 1% to 10% of the product. In addition, these products often contain hydrocolloids to improve consistency and prevent sedimentation of cocoa solids. These ingredients may cause variations in physicochemical, flow, and sensory properties of the product.
Cocoa and milk make a delicious drink that’s easy to prepare at home. You can use regular milk or a low-fat version, and unsweetened cocoa powder and vanilla essence for flavoring. You can even add a few drops of stevia for a sugar-free option.
Adding the taste of chocolate to milk can help children meet their dairy and nutrient recommendations. However, they must actually drink it in order to reap the nutritional benefits. To minimise the formation of a cocoa sediment, Thomas uses Palsgaard’s ChoMilk portfolio to stabilise the chocolate milk. These emulsifiers work by forming a weak three-dimensional network in which cocoa particles are entrapped and prevented from settling to the bottom of the container.
