Pick of the bunch

Is chocolate milk healthy?

Chocolate milk has entered the gourmet food market with brands like Lewis Road Creamery staking a claim. While traditional varieties like Milo have some nutritional virtue because they are based on milk, do newer varieties maintain this status, or have they become yet another ‘‘sugary drink’’? We took a closer look at three leading brands for nutrition, cost and taste. Milk, of course, has always had nutritional status. It is a good source of protein, calcium and other essential nutrients. As the fat is mostly saturated however, lower fat milks are healthier choices. Flavoured milks start to lose nutritional credibility when sugar is added and more so, if full fat milk is the base or cream is added. Because we love these ingredients, companies competing for market share may use them more generously. Don’t think of chocolate milk as a health food – it is a sugary drink with a few health benefits, and these are in increasing danger of being eroded. Like any sugary drink, think of it as an occasional, not an everyday, food and remember, there can be big nutritional differences between brands. ● Products are tested by NZ Registered nutritionist Bronwen King and a diverse, randomly selected group. who have a gift they want to share. But for those who don’t, it’s often the trappings of success that calls them. Perhaps they see it as the quickest and easiest route to a life of luxury? But the grandeur that you’re now courting won’t be offered to you on your reputation alone. This week, if you want the royal treatment, you must set out to prove that you deserve the crown. For more call 0900 30022. Made from milk and real chocolate, the taste is superior. But nutritionally, it suffers. It has almost twice the kilojoules of the other two brands (557/100g), more fat (7.3g/100g saturated) and more sugar (11.5g/100g). As an occasional treat, this may be fine, but large consumption would compromise health and weight. It was popular with our 19 tasters with 11 rating it first, three second and five third. It was the most expensive at $6.49 per 750ml (86c/100ml). Overall rating: Super yummy but nutritionally the worst and most expensive. An occasional treat only. Similar to Primo for nutrition with 251 kilojoules, 1.5g fat and 8.3g sugar per 100g. As the name suggests, it had a tad more calcium than the other brands. It was considerably darker in colour (a richer cocoa perhaps?) and like Primo, had added thickeners and vitamins. For taste it was the least popular, but was the cheapest at $4.69 per litre (46c/100ml) – half the price of Lewis Road. Overall rating: Acceptable familiar taste, very similar to Primo for nutrition and best price. Nutritionally the best, with least kilojoules (251/100g), equal lowest fat (1.5g/100g) and least sugar (8g/10g). Unlike Lewis Road, it had added thickener and vitamins – both unnecessary in my view. For taste it came second with two firsts, 12 seconds and 5 thirds. Cost was $3.85 for 600ml (64c/100ml) – in the middle. Overall rating: Not as delicious as Lewis Road, but perfectly acceptable. Best nutritionally and reasonably priced.