The role of milk in a healthy diet is to provide calcium, riboflavin (Vitamin B2), and protein. When looking for a milk substitute, those three nutrients are the most important to compare. Morning Moo’s, and other whey milk alternatives, provide one third the calcium, no riboflavin, and about one third the protein.
When relying heavily on food storage, the protein from milk is important because meat, eggs, and cheese may not be as readily available. Milk provides a complete, high-quality protein while beans and grains, though important protein sources, are incomplete protein sources and must be complemented by a different incomplete protein or a small amount of complete protein. Nonfat dry milk would be a better protein value than whey milk alternatives or beans and grains for children and pregnant or nursing women who can drink milk. Two cups of skim milk and whey milk alternatives provide the following percentages of the recommended dietary intake for protein1:
| Nonfat dry milk | Whey Milk Alternative | |
| 3-year-old | 100% | 46% |
| 6-year-old | 95% | 32% |
| 10-year-old | 53% | 18% |
| Women | 39% | 13% |
| Men | 33% | 11% |
Because whey milk alternatives do not have the same protein content as milk, they cannot be used to make cheese or yogurt. Puddings will also be difficult to make.
Nonfat dry milk contains no fat. Twenty-six percent of the calories in whey milk alternatives are fat calories. While this fat helps them taste and feel like 1% milk, it will also contribute to a shorter shelf life.
The whey product yields about 1-2/3 gallons per pound while the milk yields 1 gallon per pound. Even though the yield is higher per pound for whey milk alternatives, they are more expensive per gallon than non-instant nonfat dry milk.2
1Based on recommendations in the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
2Based on prices at Home Storage Centers and Augason Farms 22 May 2020