Just because busy families are often on the go, they don't have to sacrifice nutrition. Thanks to Tetra Pak cartons, milk has officially been unleashed! With milk packaged in the same shelf-safe cartons as juice boxes and not requiring refrigeration until they are opened, moms can take milk to the beach, the park, sporting events and picnics — anytime, anywhere. It is the same nutrient-rich Grade A fluid milk — but packaged for convenience.

How is this possible? The milk is flash-heated at higher temperatures (ultra-pasteurization) to eliminate bacteria and then put into Tetra Pak shelf-safe cartons, which protect the milk from air, light and other contaminants. Shelf-safe milk, the most popular way to drink milk in Europe and many countries around world, provides milk on the go, since it stays safe on the shelf without preservatives until it is ready to chill and drink.

According to the Journal of Pediatrics, dairy and calcium intakes are inadequate in most four- to 18-year-olds. A carton (8 oz.) of shelf-safe milk has 8 grams of protein and 9 essential nutrients — calcium, Vitamins A, D and B12, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, riboflavin, niacin and zinc — nearly half of the daily recommended vitamins.

"Milk Unleashed lets moms provide real milk to their children, even without refrigeration. Freeze or chill the eco-friendly cartons and toss in lunchboxes, picnic baskets, diaper bags, beach coolers and sports bags. If you take along more than you drink, it won't go to waste. Just put it back in the pantry for the next time," explains Carla Fantoni, Tetra Pak spokesperson and mom of two.

Here are a few tips from the Milk Unleashed website for getting kids to drink more milk:

    -- Stock the refrigerator (and pantry) with flavored and white milk in
        single serving cartons for a healthy snack on the go.
    -- Put it in kids' lunchboxes. If it's there, they will be more likely to
        drink it.
    -- Try offering flavored milk. It has the same nutrients and only a little
        added sugar.
    -- Appeal to their eyes by adding a drop of food coloring to make milk fun!
    -- Be a role model. Kids will be more likely to want milk if they see you
        drinking it.

The Milk Unleashed website is packed with information for moms on the go, ideas for increasing milk in their families' diets, nutritional facts about milk, plus promotions, contests and information about the various brands of shelf-safe milk and where to buy.

Tetra Pak's shelf-safe milk boxes enable milk to retain its quality without refrigeration or preservatives for several months. Families can purchase large quantities and store it safely in their pantry until they are ready to chill before opening, if they choose. For more information, visit www.MilkUnleashed.com.