So I am a fan of "Rich Chocolate" Ovaltine and what's not to love about Ovaltine? First and foremost I drink Ovaltine because it tastes great. I enjoy the stuff both as a hot cocoa mix and as a mix for chocolate milk (cold). I don't suspect I'm alone in my opinion of how good Ovaltine is. I was just reading the carton and it appears that Ovaltine has been around for over 90 years.
I suspect Ovaltine has survived trends and fads over the past 90 years for two primary reasons (1) it just tastes good and (2) this stuff is actually healthy. A quick scan of the ingredients shows that Ovaltine is made from:
* Sugar
* Cocoa
* Whey
* Salt
* & yes a few artificial flavors and colors.
But even thought sugar is the number 1 ingredient in the product the good news is that the sugar content is fairly low. A 4 tablespoon serving contains just 16 grams of sugar. Better still Ovaltine is actually fortified with several vitamins and minerals. Ovaltine mix alone (no milk) contains the following percents of recommended daily vitamin and mineral intake:
* Vitamin E - 40%
* Vitamin B - 15% + (includes B1, B6, and B12)
* Biotin - 30%
* Magnesium - 15%
* Zinc - 15%
* Copper - 20%
The main point being that these are not empty calories. Mixed with milk this is a relatively healthy treat and my kids are certainly fans.
One of my favorite uses for Ovaltine is a healthy chocolate-banana milk shake where throw a FROZEN banana, skim milk and Ovaltine in the blender. It provides a think, milk-shake like, frozen desert drink.
Ovaltine is also rather economical. On the east coast, grocery stores sell a 12oz container for 3.99.
Ovaltine is tasty, healthy and economical what's not to love!