Here We Go!

To begin comparing products I thought the best place to start would be with the staples that many families keep in their homes at all times. Things like milk, butter, sugar, eggs, and more. I feel this is a great place to start because these are the things that are often used daily in homes. Therefore choosing the most appropriate option can help to have the most impact. 

Before I begin I want to put a little disclaimer about the nutrition facts.  Nutrition facts will vary from brand to brand, but I will always try to provide information that is true across the majority of brands. Hopefully, by reading this blog you can start to see some of these variations to make the best decisions for you. So without further hesitation let’s get started!

Milk is where I decided to begin. I feel like there are many myths about milk and also there are so many new “versions” of milk coming out it can easily become confusing. Lets start with the basic- cows milk. There is skim, 1%, 2%, and whole options. The main difference in these milks is their fat content; the higher the percentage the higher the fat content, with whole milk having the highest amount. As the fat content increases the amount of Calories will increase.

SCIENCE SIDEBAR:  1 gram of fat = 9 calories

                                           1 gram of carbohydrate = 4 calories

                                           1 gram of protein = 4 calories.

*Fat is the most calorie dense macronutrient. This is why a change in fat content 

can make such a big difference in the Calories of foods we eat!

The higher percentage milks also have more saturated fat and cholesterol than the lower percentages.

              Most other nutrients provided in milk are similar in all percentages. All percentages are an equally good source of protein, 8grams, and have similar amounts of sodium and carbohydrate. All percentages provide the same amount of vitamin’s A, C, and D as well as iron with the exception of the vitamin A content in whole milk (6% rather than 10%  as in skim, 1%, and 2%). Myth number 1 debunked- whole milk does not contain more nutrients than the other percentages. By looking at the pictures I have taken you can compare the labels yourself. What other differences do you note? What are your nutritional goals and what is the best option for you? 

Fat free milk is a great everyday option for those looking to cut down on Calories or fat in their diet!
And remember you won't be missing out on other nutrients higher fat milks contain!

Both 2% and 1% milk are good options for people trying to change to fat free milk, but are use to the taste of whole milk or vice-versa. 

Whole milk is a good option for children under 2 and for those who need to gain weight
or have trouble eating enough to maintain their weight! Extra fat = extra Calories!

            Now for chocolate milk…“Low-fat” (1%) Chocolate milk has the same amount of fat as 1% milk and the same amount of Calories as whole milk. The main difference is that is has more carbohydrate. Chocolate milk comes in a variety of fat contents just like white milk. Here is the low-fat option that  used for my comparison. 

Chocolate milk serves as a great workout recovery drink
as it has a good carbohydrate to protein ratio!

         With all of the varieties of cows milk covered, what about almond-milk and soymilk? Vanilla, original, dark chocolate, oh my! That will be the topic of tomorrow's blog!