It’s no secret that our kids drink too many sodas and not enough milk. If your children do not like plain milk, a chocolate milk mix may be the answer. This article reviews two of the most popular: Nesquik and Ovaltine.
Nesquik is now marketing itself as a lower sugar alternative to chocolate syrup and other chocolate milk mixes. It is difficult to verify this from the nutrition labels on the Nesquik and Ovaltine packages since the values are given for different amounts. Nesquik claims to have 13 grams of sugar for 2 tablespoons and Ovaltine claims to have 18 for 4 tablespoons of mix. This different amounts are due to the mix directions. Nesquik says to use 2 tablespoons for 1 cup of milk and Ovaltine says to use 1 cup. The Nesquik is a much denser, finer powder. The Ovaltine is a chunkier, less compact powder, so it makes sense that more Ovaltine would be used.
I performed a test taste with my daughters, ages 9 and 5. My 5 year old did not have a taste preference. My 9 year old thought the Nesquik was sweeter, but the Ovaltine had more chocolate taste. I, too, tasted the samples and agreed with her. So, if your children have more of a sweet tooth then the Nesquik would be a better option.
The Nesquik did not mix up as well as the Ovaltine. The Nesquik left lumps of chocolate swirling around. Actually, my 9 year old likes this because she can scoop the lumps out with a spoon and eat them. The Ovaltine, despite it’s chunkier texture, mixes up very smoothly.
Another key difference in the nutritional values listed on the packages comes from the fact that Nesquik gives values based on using 1 cup of reduced fat vitamin A and D milk. This would be 2% milk. The Ovaltine gives values based on using skim milk. I have tried to adjust the differences, and I will give values based on 2% milk.
One cup of chocolate milk made with Nesquik has 180 calories, 45 calories of fat. The total fat is 8% of the recommended daily value, 16% of the recommended daily value of saturated fat. There is no trans fat or cholesterol. There is 10% daily value of these nutrients: vitamin A, biotin, copper, and manganese. There is 15% of vitamin C, vitamin B6 and zinc. There is 40% daily value of calcium, 25% of vitamin D, and 2% of iron. It should be noted that many of these nutrients come from the added milk, and not from the mix itself. The Nesquik itself has a maximum of 10% of any nutrient.
One cup of chocolate milk made with Ovaltine has 200 calories. This is based on using 2% milk, rather than the skim milk indicated on the package. The total fat and saturated fat are the same, since the mix itself has no fat. As with Nesquik, there is no trans fat or cholesterol. Both the amount and number of nutrients is higher with Ovaltine. There is 20% daily value of these nutrients: vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and copper. There is 25% daily value of vitamin D, thiamine (B1), pantothenic acid, magnesium, and zinc. There is also 35% calcium, 40% vitamin E, 30% biotin and phosphorus. Unlike Nesquik, many of these nutrients do come from the Ovaltine mix itself and not the milk.
Both Nesquik and Ovaltine can be made with cold milk or hot milk to make cocoa. The price difference can be significant. I paid $2.12 for 10.9 ounces of Nesquik (.19 per ounce) and $2.63 for 12 ounces of Ovaltine (.22 per ounce). The price per ounce is not what makes a difference. It’s the fact that you are directed to use 4 tablespoons of Ovaltine for each cup of milk. Therefore, there are 16 servings of Ovaltine in the 12 ounce container, and 19 servings of Nesquik in the 10.9 ounce container.
I tend to use much less than what the package calls for since I want to add as little sugar as possible. Even with Nesquik marketing its lower sugar mix, there is so much sugar added to many products that I want to keep as much out as I can without affecting the taste.
I prefer to buy the Ovaltine just because it does make a healthier drink all around. However, if you have problems with your children drinking milk and getting enough dairy in their diets then Nesquik is a good alternative. There are also other flavors of Nesquik and Ovaltine that are worth trying.
