This Moo's For You

The answer to the question "Got milk?" is getting complicated. Milk consumption is going up among people of all ages, and producers are capitalizing on this by launching new formulations and flavors that go way beyond traditional chocolate and strawberry. Promised Land Dairy offers a grownup caramel Dulce de Leche, along with rich vanilla, amaretto, strawberry, banana, peach and seasonal flavors like blueberry. Kreider Farms in Pennsylvania makes a fruity Strawberry Banana and Orange Cream milk (which tastes just like a melted Creamsicle, in a good way). One of Ronnybrook Farm Dairy's best-selling products is its coffee-flavored milk. Made with decaffeinated Brazilian roast coffee, sucannat (an unrefined sugar) and chicory-root extract, it tastes like coffee ice cream. Even doughnut purveyor Krispy Kreme has got into the act at its ubiquitous stores, dispensing hot and cold milks in such flavors as caramel, vanilla, cinnamon, raspberry and their signature "original Kreme."

But are these creamy treats really good for you? According to a June 2002 report in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, flavored milks can be more nutritious than traditional soft drinks like soda because they contain calcium, protein and other nutrients instead of just sugar and calories. But health-savvy drinkers should choose the low-fat versions of these milks. And be sure to check the serving size on the label — many of those 14-or 16-oz. bottles are actually considered two servings, so drinking the whole bottle means consuming twice the fat, calories and sugar.