Nutrition Question - Cow's Milk

[bluelikejazz]

I was at a party on Saturday night and a friend of mine (who is super into locally grown / organic / non-processed food) said on two different occasions that she won't give her kids cows milk because "It has absolutely no nutritional value". Instead, they get almond milk. 

I never got a chance to ask her why she thought this.  Anyone have any insight?

[ktzmoh]

Obviously cows milk has nutritional value - it contains calories, micronutrients and macronutrients . However I don't think it's critical for a healthy and complete diet.

[sadlebred]

Paging thom to the Board.....

[chw57]

I go back and forth on this, but it is a great source of protein and doesn't have added sugar or other things like almond milk does.

[hannahb]

I give this a huge side eye. I wonder what the kids pediatrician has to say about that. Obviously, if someone is allergic than almond milk is a good alternative, however cows milk contains fat, protein, carbs. It is kids main source of nutrition early on in life. My pediatrician says as long as my son is drinking milk it doesn't matter if he's being picky and not eating his meals. Also there are multiple studies showing it to be a good recovery drink for adults

[jene]

dairygood.org/revealing-the-udder-truth

thom posted this a little bit ago on her social media pages, it addresses a lot of issues that dairy farmers hear and deal with on the regular

[tacosforlife]

I pulled up a nutritional label for both almond milk (Almond Breeze original) and regular ol' moo moo cow milk (Kemps 1%).

Serving size: 1 cup

ALMOND MILK
60 calories
2.5g fat
150mg sodium
180mg potassium
8g total carb
1g dietary fiber
7g sugar
1g protein

10% vit A
30% calcium
25% vit D
2% phosphorous
2% iron
50% vit E
4% magnesium


MOO MOO COW MILK
110 calories
2.5g fat
1.5g sat fat
10mg cholesterol
135mg sodium
410mg potassium
13g total carb
12g sugar
8g protein

10% vit A
30% calcium
25% vit D


COMPARISON: Moo moo cow milk is missing a couple of vitamins and minerals that almond has, but moo moo cow milk has the same amount of calcium, more protein, and more potassium than almond milk.

CONCLUSION: Your friend is crazy. Moo moo cow milk has nutritional value.

[shorewife]

I like almond milk but stopped drinking it when I realized what a good source of protein cow's milk is compared to almond milk,

[emilyj]

There's a reason that chocolate milk is the perfect recovery drink, and almond milk is not.

[trigal]

Ask her how to milk an almond.

[cuadrado]

How does she figure that cow's milk has no nutritional value? That doesn't even make sense.

[taratru]

I'd rather eat my almonds than drink them. And isn't the sugar in almond milk added sugar?

[wambam]

It obviously has nutritional value. Perhaps she meant that it's not necessary that humans consume it?

[tacosforlife]

Jul 30, 2015 16:30:34 GMT -5 taratru said:

And isn't the sugar in almond milk added sugar?

Per the link I posted, Almond Breeze original contains evaporated cane juice.

Personally, I think almond milk looks pointless - it's basically a slightly sweet vitamin drink. I'd rather get the protein from the moo moo cow milk. But I do understand that people choose it as an alternative to moo moo cow milk for a variety of reasons, and that's fine. Well, as long as they're not being dumb dumbs who say moo moo cow milk has no nutritional value. I feel overly invested in this argument, LOL.

[itsme]

I hope she had some other meaning to her comment otherwise ^o)  .

[polarbearfans]

Jul 30, 2015 16:46:59 GMT -5 tacosforlife said:

Jul 30, 2015 16:30:34 GMT -5 taratru said:

And isn't the sugar in almond milk added sugar?

Per the link I posted, Almond Breeze original contains evaporated cane juice.

Personally, I think almond milk looks pointless - it's basically a slightly sweet vitamin drink. I'd rather get the protein from the moo moo cow milk. But I do understand that people choose it as an alternative to moo moo cow milk for a variety of reasons, and that's fine. Well, as long as they're not being dumb dumbs who say moo moo cow milk has no nutritional value. I feel overly invested in this argument, LOL.

Unsweetened original is the way to go for any brand almond milk. Silk has less questionable ingredients. If I could do dairy, cows milk would be my first choice.

[jene]

I drank almond milk when I was breastfeeding A. I was so happy when I could switch back to cow's milk.

[thom]

Hey all. So, as most of you have wisely pointed out, dairy milk has quality protein, calcium, vitamins -- lots of nutritional benefits. I do like the link jene shared too because it's got some real interviews with dairy farmers. The articles in the Onion from that link are over the top, but of course that's the point.

Anyway, I could definitely link to National Dairy Council or any number of good resources, but I don't think that's what we're really talking about. I know many food associations and products do their own quality research with experts, but if there's something you don't want to believe you just dismiss it. This person obviously has issues with eating animal products or just dairy for some reason, and that's their choice. I would never tell someone they have to eat a certain food or way. Saying dairy milk has no nutrition isn't true, but that's maybe how they rationalize it. I've talked to lots of people about raising food & dairy farming over time, and because of that I've heard just about everything under the sun. I love answering legitimate questions, but if someone is just against farms and wants to fight we can't have a good conversation. You know?

I addressed a similar issue about dairy & all the labels on my blog just today if you want a quick read.
cowspotsandtales.wordpress.com/2015/07/30/the-milk-comment/

Ok, end of novel.

[itsme]

[wambam]

itsme wins all my love and affection today.

[itsme]

Jul 30, 2015 17:27:42 GMT -5 wambam said:

itsme wins all my love and affection today.

(heart)  (lips) (hug2)

[thom]

Also, is Moo Moo milk a new brand or am I just clueless? Just cow's milk?

[tacosforlife]

Jul 30, 2015 17:30:53 GMT -5 thom said:

Also, is Moo Moo milk a new brand or am I just clueless? Just cow's milk?

I just like calling it that.

Have you ever heard Lewis Black's bit on milk? He calls it moo cow fuck milk, but I was trying (for once in my life) to be less crass.

[thom]

tacosforlife -- got it. Never seen it, but maybe I should...

[sadlebred]

Jul 30, 2015 16:23:09 GMT -5 trigal said:

Ask her how to milk an almond.

If you figure this out, please let me know!

[ktzmoh]

Jul 30, 2015 20:52:11 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Jul 30, 2015 16:23:09 GMT -5 trigal said:

Ask her how to milk an almond.

If you figure this out, please let me know!

I get that this is tounge in cheek , but actually home made almond milk is ridiculously easy, cheap and really really good. We make it weekly and iced almond milk lattes are a summer favorite.

[bluelikejazz]

I totally forgot I posted this today! Thanks ladies!

I feel like she was being super serious in her comments about it. Apparently one of her kids asked for cows milk and she likened it to juice or soda. Maybe I'll ask her next time I see her and let you all know.

FWIW she was eating a lot of cheese at the party, which made it all very odd.

[al320]

Jul 30, 2015 20:59:35 GMT -5 ktzmoh said:

Jul 30, 2015 20:52:11 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

If you figure this out, please let me know!

I get that this is tounge in cheek , but actually home made almond milk is ridiculously easy, cheap and really really good. We make it weekly and iced almond milk lattes are a summer favorite.

How do you make homemade almond milk? Is it blender + water? Or more complicated than that?

[wambam]

As a direct result of this thread (lol) the almond milk container exploded all over my kitchen this morning while making oatmeal. THANKS H&F!!!

[2doxies]

Jul 31, 2015 7:37:49 GMT -5 wambam said:

As a direct result of this thread (lol) the almond milk container exploded all over my kitchen this morning while making oatmeal. THANKS H&F!!!

Just because of this thread, I bought some chocolate milk for my post-workout drink today