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Home > What do you know about real milk and non-dairy beverages?

What do you know about real milk and non-dairy beverages?

When comparing real cow’s milk and non-dairy alternatives, consider nutrition, ingredients, price, and more.

NUTRITIONINGREDIENTSSUGARSPRICETASTERECIPES

Why Are the Full Mix of Nutrients in a Beverage Important to Consider?

Farm fresh, real dairy milk is naturally nutrient rich — which is difficult to match in most non-dairy milk alternatives, and backed by decades of research.

Milk has nine essential nutrients including:
B vitamins (riboflavin, B-12
and niacin)
High-quality protein Vitamin A Potassium Phosphorus
Calcium
Vitamin D
Converting food
to energy
Lean Muscle Healthy immune system Regulate the balance of fluids Bone Building

How Do These Drinks Stack Up?

There are real differences for you to consider between milk and non-dairy milk alternatives. For the complete picture — from calories and added sugar, to nutrients and ingredient list, as well as the amount of protein and price — here’s how each drink compares when you read the product label1.

Calories Protein
(g)
Sugar
(g)
Added Sugar (g) Nutrients Ingredients Price per serving
150 Calories
8g Protein
12g Sugar
0g Added Sugar
See Nutrients
 Calcium (30%)

Vitamin D (30%)*

Riboflavin (25%)

Phosphorus (20%)

Vitamin B12 (20%)

Protein (16%)

Potassium (10%)

Niacin (10%)**

See Ingredients

Milk,

vitamin D

$0.23 per serving
 80 Calories
8g Protein
12g Sugar
0g Added Sugar
See Nutrients

Calcium (30%)

Vitamin D (30%)*

Riboflavin (25%)

Phosphorus (20%)

Vitamin B12 (20%)

Protein (16%)

Potassium (10%)

Niacin (10%)**

See Ingredients

Milk,

vitamin A,

vitamin D

 $0.23 per serving
100 Calories
8g Protein
12g Sugar
0g Added Sugar
See Nutrients

Calcium (30%)

Vitamin D (30%)*

Riboflavin (25%)

Phosphorus (20%)

Vitamin B12 (20%)

Protein (16%)

Potassium (10%)

Niacin (10%)**

See Ingredients

Milk,

vitamin A,

vitamin D

 $0.23 per serving
 100 Calories
7g Protein
6g Sugar
5g Added Sugar
See Nutrients

Vitamin B12 (50%)*

Calcium (30%)*

Vitamin D (30%)*

Riboflavin (30%)*

Protein (14%)

Vitamin A (10%)*

Magnesium (10%) 

See Ingredients

Soymilk (filtered water, soybeans),

sugar,

calcium,

vitamin A,

vitamin D,

riboflavin,

vitamin B12,

sea salt,

natural flavor,

gellan gum 

$0.44 per serving
 60 Calories
 1g Protein
7g Sugar
7g Added Sugar
See Nutrients

Calcium (45%)*

Vitamin D (25%)*

Vitamin A (10%)* 

See Ingredients

Almondmilk (filtered water, almonds),

sugar,

sea salt,

locust bean

gum,

sunflower

lecithin,

gellan gum,

calcium,

vitamin E,

vitamin A,

vitamin D 

 $0.45 per serving
100 Calories
 8g Protein
6g Sugar
6g Added Sugar
See Nutrients

Calcium (45%)*

Vitamin D (30%)*

Protein (16%)

Iron (15%)*

Vitamin A (10%)* 

See Ingredients

Ripptein (pea protein),

sunflower oil,

organic cane sugar,

algal oil,

water,

vitamin A,

vitamin D,

calcium,

potassium,

sunflower lecithin,

natural flavors,

sea salt,

organic guar gum,

gellan gum

$0.83 per serving
120 Calories
 1g Protein
10g Sugar
10g Added Sugar
See Nutrients
?
See Ingredients

Filtered water,

organic brown rice (partially milled),

organic expeller pressed canola oil and/or organic safflower oil and/or organic sunflower oil,

sea salt

$0.79 per serving
70 Calories
 <1g Protein
7g Sugar
7g Added Sugar
See Nutrients

Vitamin B12 (50%)*

Vitamin D (30%)*

Calcium (10%)*

Vitamin A (10%)*

Magnesium (10%)*

See Ingredients

Organic coconut milk (filtered water, organic coconut cream),

organic cane sugar,

calcium,

magnesium,

selenium,

vitamin A,

vitamin D,

zinc,

vitamin B12,

sea salt,

organic sunflower lecithin,

organic locust bean gum,

gellan gum

$0.56 per serving
50 Calories
 0g Protein
7g Sugar
7g Added Sugar
See Nutrients
Calcium (30%)*

Vitamin D (25%)*

Vitamin B12 (25%)*

Phosphorus (15%)

Vitamin A (10%)*

See Ingredients
 Flaxmilk (filtered water, cold pressed flax oil),

sugar,

calcium,

vanilla extract,

sunflower lecithin,

natural flavors,

sea salt,

gellan gum,

xanthan gum,

vitamin A,

vitamin D,

vitamin B12

 $0.61 per serving

 


FOOTNOTES:
1 . USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28
2.  Sales data from IRI, calendar year 2017, and average online grocery prices for top markets
+  Nutrients signify food provides 10% or greater of the Daily Value of labeled nutrients. Nutrients will differ by brand, flavor and fat content as nutrient fortification varies.
++  Product formulation will differ by brand, flavor and fat content, so ingredients may vary.
*  Indicates nutrient is fortified.
**  As niacin equivalents.

What should you know about added sugar?

When parents make beverage choices for their kids, it’s important to consider the company sugar keeps.  Moms should think about the context of her child’s overall diet, nutrients and calories.  Health experts, like American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), acknowledge that small amounts of sugar may help your kids enjoy nutritious foods, like flavored milk and whole grains.

Many people may not realize a food or beverage has added sugar.  Here is a quick list to help you navigate the ingredient list.

Do you recognize these names for added sugar:

 

Anhydrous dextrose        corn syrup       dextrose       high fructose corn syrup
 
Raw sugar       sucrose       fruit juice concentrate       evaporated cane juice
 
honey       malt syrup       molasses       maltrose       nectars

 

What about natural sugar?

Ultimately, there are reasons to include sugar in the diet, but you may be surprised where you find it.  When you look at the nutrition label on a gallon of milk, you will find sugar listed.  But that sugar is not added, it’s lactose.

What is Lactose?

How can you get both nutrition and value in a beverage?

The average American household spends about 10 percent of their budget on food – nearly $80 a week for groceries.  Take a look at how much dairy milk can help stretch your grocery budget.

 

How can milk enhance your favorite foods?

Milk is the foundation for many American favorites and tastes from around the world, and has been for centuries.  From creamy macaroni and cheese to a classic alfredo sauce to a detectable crème brulee, milk adds dimension, accentuates the flavor and serves as a decadent base to many of your favorite dishes.

View Recipes

Find out more about Michigan dairy farming and dairy foods by visiting our Blog.

 

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