Chocolate Milk Nutrition Facts: 13 Essential Nutrients & More
This article was reviewed by Megan Maisano, MS, RDN.
Flavored milk is a nutritious option for kids, teens and adults to enjoy while getting the same 13 essential nutrients found in unflavored milk. Many kids don’t get enough calcium, vitamin D and potassium in their diets, prompting concerns among public health officials. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Academy of Pediatrics recognize that a small amount of added sugars, which fall within the daily calorie limit, can be used to make nutrient-rich foods such as low-fat flavored milk more appealing.
Chocolate milk is higher in calories and carbohydrates than regular milk because it is sweetened with cocoa and sugar. One 8-ounce glass of chocolate milk has about 120-160 calories and 21-26 grams of carbohydrates including 8-13 grams of added sugar. School flavored milk is often lower in calories and sugar than store-bought flavored milk. Read on to learn the daily value, or DV, of each nutrient in 8 oz. of low-fat chocolate milk.
Nutrients in Chocolate Milk and White Milk
- Calcium: Helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth, 25% DV
- Protein: Helps build and repair tissue. Helps maintain a healthy immune system, 9 grams
- Vitamin D: Helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth. Helps maintain a healthy immune system, 15% DV
- Vitamin A: Helps keep skin and eyes healthy; helps promote growth. Helps maintain a healthy immune system, 15% DV
- Pantothenic Acid (B5): Helps your body use carbohydrates, fats and protein for fuel, 20% DV
- Vitamin B12: Helps maintain healthy immune, blood and nervous system function. Supports normal energy metabolism. Necessary for brain development during pregnancy and infancy; linked to cognitive function in childhood, 25% DV
- Riboflavin (B2): Helps your body use carbohydrates, fats and protein for fuel, 50% DV
- Phosphorus: Helps build and maintain strong bones and teeth, supports tissue growth, 20% DV
- Iodine: Necessary for proper bone and brain development during pregnancy and infancy; linked to cognitive function in childhood.
- Selenium: Helps maintain a healthy immune system, helps regulate metabolism and helps protect healthy cells from damage, 10% DV
- Zinc: Helps maintain a healthy immune system, helps support normal growth and development and helps maintain healthy skin, 10% DV
- Potassium: Helps maintain a healthy blood pressure and supports heart health. Helps regulate body fluid balance and helps maintain normal muscle function, 15% DV
- Niacin (B3): Used in energy metabolism in the body, 15% DV
Whether you're drinking flavored milk, like the chocolate milk pictured above, or unflavored milk, you're getting 13 essential nutrients in one glass. From Calcium to Vitamin B12, and everything in between!
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