Why Kiki Milk is Great for Kids

Why Kiki Milk is Great for Kids
This article is brought to you by Kiki Milk in collaboration with PlantBaby's Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist, Vicki Kobliner.

 

For young kids and preteens, organic whole food sources are especially important, says Vicki Kobliner, MS RDN, CD-N.

"Since young bodies are still developing, it is extra important for kids and teens to get nutrient dense food to help fuel that growth. At the same time, pesticides and other chemicals in their food can have a greater adverse impact as they are concentrated in a smaller body."

Made with only organic, whole food ingredients, every glass of Kiki Milk is delicious, filled with the most nutrient-dense foods, and safe for kids. Here's why:

 

1 - Kiki Milk contains zero additives

When we created Kiki Milk, the first thing we did was develop a checklist of no-no ingredients. Things like:

❌ No gums, emulsifiers or stabilizers

These compounds can impair the growth of probiotics, those great gut bugs kids need for digestion, immune function, and even mood.

❌ No refined sugars

Refined sugars promote obesity, impact heart health and can cause blood sugar swings, all of which are implicated in long term health problems. The less refined added sugar kids eat, the better.

❌ No high omega-6 inflammatory oils like sunflower oil or sunflower lecithin

Corn, soy, sunflower and safflower oils are found in many processed foods. While omega-6 oils can be healthful when consumed from whole foods, in excess they are linked to obesity, chronic inflammation and blood clots.

❌ No natural or artificial sweeteners, flavors, colors or preservatives

When it comes to these ingredients, it makes sense to flip the question from why not use them to why? What do these foods contribute to the growth and development of children? Artificial flavors, colors and preservatives have been linked to poorer attention in children and who wants that?

❌ No nuts*

Understanding that nut allergies are among the most common food allergies in both children and adults, we decided to omit them. We did, however, use coconuts* which are botanically classified as a one-seeded drupe, although the FDA recognizes them as a tree nut. According to the Coconut Coalition of the Americas (CCA), consumers with a tree nut allergy, but not a coconut allergy, are generally able to tolerate coconuts. As always, please consult with your doctor to ensure Kiki Milk is right for you.

❌ No glyphosate

This common pesticide is pervasive in US foods. It has been banned in Europe, and is linked to cancer and is correlated with increased risk of ADHD. We 3rd party lab-test all our sourced ingredients to ensure they are not contaminated by glyphosate.

In summary: No Weird Stuff!

 

2 - Kiki Milk is organic milk, made with whole food ingredients

Next, we compiled a list of the most nutrient-dense foods we love. Pure, organic, whole food ingredients such as:

🌾 Organic Oats

Oats are loaded with soluble fiber, which keeps you nice and full. They also contain plant chemicals that act as antioxidants to reduce the damaging effects of chronic inflammation that is associated with various diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

🥥 Organic Coconuts

Coconut meat is a great source of healthy fat. It also contains protein and fiber, as well as some essential minerals such as Iron, Manganese, Copper, and Magnesium.

🌱 Organic Hemp Seeds

Hemp seeds pack a powerful nutritional punch in a tiny package ideal for little bodies. They contain good quality protein for building strong bodies, anti-inflammatory omega-3s fatty acids, zinc for immune and brain health and Vitamin A which supports vision and protects against infection.

🌱 Organic Sprouted Pumpkin Seeds

Pumpkin seeds are another winning addition to a child’s diet, providing more protein, zinc and omega 3’s as well as iron, copper and Vitamin K.

🫐 Superfoods like Aquamin™, amla, banana, blueberries and spinach

Aquamin™ (seaweed) provides calcium from the sea, amla (Indian gooseberry) and blueberries are great for vitamin C, banana adds sweetness and potassium, and spinach offers plant-based iron.

From there, we partnered with Planet FWD to find responsible suppliers whose sourcing practices consider the impacts of chemical farming and chart a path forward through regenerative agricultural practices.

 

3 - We looked at human milk as our nutritional guide

Cow’s milk isn’t specifically made for humans, it's made for cows and cows require different nutrition for growth than humans do. Yet, most other plant-based milks compare their nutrition facts to a glass of cow’s milk. 🤔 This seems funny to us, so we looked at what humans, big and small, require for optimal health.

With Kiki Milk, we sought out to create the perfect combination of proteins, fats, vitamins, and carbohydrates, specifically for people, made by plants. When compared nutritionally to other milks, Kiki Milk is most comparable to breast milk.

Kiki Milk’s nutrient combinations are designed specifically to support growing kids with:

More robust calories to fuel growth, with healthy fats for a vibrant brain and also to keep kids full

Fiber to keep bowels moving and grow good bacteria in developing guts

⭐ More anti-inflammatory omega 3's, and iron for energy and cognitive function

More zinc than cow's milk from hemp and pumpkin seeds; zinc being a crucial nutrient for immune function, taste perception, bone growth and attention

Magnesium, another mighty mineral that is helpful for calming, for normal bowel function, and attention span (to name just a few of its important roles)

 

4 - Kiki Milk is made with leading pediatricians 🩺

Kiki Milk is designed to meet the nutritional needs of growing kids and is the launch product of PlantBaby. PlantBaby’s portfolio of clean-label, plant-based, organic foods and beverages is led by a team of parents, innovators, change-makers and pediatricians.

 

The Bottom Line

More often than not, plant-based milks are only a subpar nutritional substitute for those trying to replace dairy cow's milk. They often contain additives, emulsifiers, nuts, refined sugar, and a handful of other suboptimal ingredients. Kiki Milk is different. Made with only organic, whole food ingredients, every glass of Kiki Milk is delicious, filled with vitamins and minerals, safe for kids, and climate friendly too! As a parent, you can confidently pour your kids ✨and yourself✨ a glass of Kiki Milk!