I take care of my mom and I give her Ensure because she doesn’t eat enough. My daughter tasted my mom’s drink one day and she really liked it. I knew I couldn’t give her the same drink I give my mom because that is for older people. I found a healthy, kid-friendly shake but now my daughter drinks healthy protein shakes instead of milk. They serve her milk at daycare, but she won’t drink it anymore. I assumed the protein shakes were as healthy as milk. Am I wrong? – KIARA
It is not that one drink is healthier than the other, instead it is that the drinks do not share equal nutritional content. They are not equals. Milk has a completely different nutritional make up than a protein shake. The healthiness of milk (dairy and nondairy) and protein shakes depends on the manufacturing and the quality of ingredients used to produce the beverage.
In special cases, nutrition supplement shakes/drinks may substitute milk for a child. Some cases of medical necessity include children who have genetic conditions, feeding difficulties, or use feeding tubes which may require regular consumption of nutrition supplement shakes to assist with nourishment. Although each beverage is considered to be healthy, it is best to choose the beverage that meets the nutritional needs of your child. Have you spoken to your child’s pediatrician to see if only consuming protein shakes meets your child’s nutritional needs? If not, you may want to consider giving them a call.
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