Chocolate milk is standard fare in many schools and homes. Is it as nutritious as white milk?
There are two ways to look at this question. Yes, it does contain all of the same nutrients as white milk, and this is good! Children and adults need the protein, calcium, and the vitamins A and D that both white and chocolate milk provide. However, chocolate milk also contains a lot of added sugar - which is important to consider.
Preschoolers need at least 2 cups of fluid milk daily, and they may also enjoy small servings of other dairy products like cheese and yogurt. Older children and youth require 3-4 servings of milk and/or milk products every day to meet their needs for calcium during this phase of rapid bone growth. Adults need 2 to 3 cups of milk or 2 to 3 servings of milk products daily.
If chocolate milk is the only milk you or your child drink, you may want to consider these ideas for balancing chocolate milk in a healthy eating pattern:
try mixing regular milk with a little chocolate milk.
try powdered chocolate, or liquid chocolate syrup to flavor milk. That way you can use less!
heat milk, with just a little chocolate to flavor it - heating brings out the natural sweetness in milk.
if chocolate milk is offered in school, arrange for your child to have it 1-2 times per week, and white milk on the other days.
Chocolate milk will always be a better choice than soft drinks, sports drinks or other fruit flavored drinks! The small amount of caffeine (from chocolate) is minor compared to the caffeine content of colas. The sugar may be a concern for children's dental health so children need to be reminded to brush their teeth often.
Chocolate milk can be part of a healthy diet! If used regularly in your home, try some of the suggested tips for lowering its sugar content. For more tips on healthy eating, check out Dietitians of Canada's new website at www.dietitians.ca.
- Written by the Public Health Nutritionists of Saskatchewan and supported by the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region. For more information, contact Victoria Jurgens, Public Health Nutritionist at 1521-6th Avenue West, Prince Albert, SK S6V 5K1, or call 765-6604.
