Strawberry Milk vs Chocolate Milk: Which is Better?

Millions of kids and adults across the nation enjoy flavored milk every day. Studies show that more than 10% of Americans drink chocolate milk regularly and nearly three quarters of students choose flavored milk at school.
Have you ever stopped to consider the nutritional value and whether there are any differences between strawberry milk vs chocolate milk? Moreover, how do the flavored varieties stack up against regular milk?
This guide provides the complete, in-depth overview you need to compare the options and determine which type of milk is best for you and your family.
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Overview of Report
There are many controversies, research studies, and opinions surrounding the topic of whether humans should drink cow’s milk.
The potential health benefits, issues of lactose intolerance, and pros and cons of a dairy-free diet are individual preferences and dependent on an individual’s dietary needs.
This report doesn’t delve into those issues. Instead, we aim to provide a comprehensive yet easy-to-follow comparison guide of the nutritional information and ingredients related to strawberry milk and chocolate milk.
The information in this report should help you make informed decisions about which drink is better for you.
Dairy Milk
Let’s start with the base, which is plain dairy milk. It’s packed with nutrients, vitamins, and minerals and available in many varieties, from nonfat and 2% to whole fat milk.
One cup of whole milk contains 156 calories, nearly twice the total calories in nonfat milk.
The following chart summarizes the nutritional content of regular unflavored milk, by fat content.
Cow Milk Nutritional Information
Per 1 Cup 22490_10fd38-be> |
Nonfat 22490_6cd5ef-5a> |
2% 22490_4d78d9-d3> |
Whole 22490_ac698d-ba> |
---|---|---|---|
Serving Weight 22490_0874ed-54> |
246g 22490_0fc5a3-01> |
245g 22490_fc2515-cb> |
249g 22490_032fe2-04> |
Calories 22490_f54ce4-71> |
84 22490_59fe4e-e0> |
122 22490_2a610d-c1> |
156 22490_acda4b-57> |
Total Fat 22490_b28765-8e> |
<1g 22490_6e7c59-ee> |
5g 22490_2cfae4-9a> |
8g 22490_27241e-e7> |
— Saturated Fat 22490_69c9e7-22> |
<1g 22490_1736ba-3b> |
3g 22490_f0a982-16> |
5g 22490_e6c186-ea> |
Cholesterol 22490_9bbd84-f8> |
7mg 22490_5881da-91> |
20mg 22490_6eda98-fa> |
30mg 22490_76e8a7-ba> |
Sodium 22490_d49c4f-6e> |
101mg 22490_1ea0f7-71> |
96mg 22490_9c48fd-93> |
95mg 22490_14adea-81> |
Carbohydrates 22490_e25ba5-fa> |
12g 22490_386cb1-23> |
12g 22490_8b31ec-eb> |
12g 22490_b5487a-ee> |
— Total Sugars 22490_9cff81-66> |
12g 22490_71eb96-46> |
12g 22490_61ef6f-52> |
12g 22490_af6bc1-8e> |
Protein 22490_386c0a-d9> |
8g 22490_253719-fa> |
8g 22490_44e8f7-48> |
8g 22490_172fe5-a9> |
Source: USDA FoodData Central
Lactose
According to Dairy Farmers of America, lactose-free milk contains the same vitamins and minerals of regular milk without the lactose, which is a natural sugar found in milk.
For individuals who are lactose-intolerant, check out Organic Valley’s chocolate milk, which is made with lactose-free 1% low-fat milk.
Calcium
According to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, getting enough calcium is important for overall health and strong bones.
MedlinePlus states that milk is a nutrient-dense source of calcium with a standard 1-cup portion containing about 300 milligrams of calcium.
Studies have shown that humans may absorb calcium more easily from drinking milk than from eating other calcium-rich foods such as spinach, kale, and bock choy.
Moreover, milk is a great source of protein, iodine, vitamin D, vitamin B2, vitamin B12, and zinc.
Strawberry Milk vs Chocolate Milk
Before you purchase milk, check the expiration date. It’s typically printed on the top of the carton above the pouring spout.
Most milk should be stored in the refrigerator and will remain fresh for about 5 to 7 days after opening.
Flavored Milks
You will find a variety of options in the dairy cooler at the grocery store. In addition to local farmers and generic store brands, leading national milk distributors offer a variety of flavored milk options.
Quick Facts by Brand
Borden Dairy 22490_613246-fd> |
22490_ed4c96-0a> |
Horizon Organic 22490_0c4367-d5> |
22490_ea0351-18> |
22490_35a522-28> |
22490_a83fc3-b2> |
22490_564a1e-41> |
22490_0ee82b-88> |
Store milk in the fridge for no more than 7 days after opening.

Nutrition Summary: Strawberry and Chocolate Milk
The following table provides a comparison of the nutritional value of strawberry milk vs chocolate milk.
For illustration purposes, we compare products from the same brand, Nesquik.
Nutritional Summary of Nesquik Milk*
The following nutrition facts are the same for Strawberry Milk and Chocolate Milk, based on a serving size of 8 fl. oz. (236mL).
Strawberry Milk and Chocolate Milk
Calories 22490_408fcb-7f> |
140 22490_345e91-2d> |
Protein 22490_736bfa-09> |
8g 22490_4b59df-ef> |
Total Fat 22490_7011e3-a4> |
2.5g 22490_beb402-68> |
Calcium 22490_d02629-4f> |
420mg 22490_3ce43f-73> |
— Saturated Fat 22490_ae44ea-9e> |
1.5g 22490_ce0f42-92> |
Vitamin A 22490_8ea330-8d> |
420mg 22490_bc519c-61> |
Cholesterol 22490_49ed6c-a4> |
10mg 22490_ff890f-53> |
Vitamin D 22490_bf3c47-2f> |
2.5mcg 22490_28182f-21> |
Carbohydrates 22490_9e3765-74> |
23g 22490_9c6b53-66> |
Potassium 22490_37d688-a8> |
310mg 22490_03a6c6-b9> |
— Total Sugars 22490_08823c-de> |
21g 22490_117bb8-3d> | 22490_9f42fd-88> | 22490_5087a7-a8> |
— Added Sugars 22490_bfba5a-0f> |
11g 22490_80d596-eb> | 22490_b5065e-3d> | 22490_b9b59d-f8> |
Check prices for Nesquik milk products.
The amount per serving of a few nutrients differ between the two flavors. See below for the sodium, potassium, and iron content in Nesquik Strawberry Milk and Chocolate Milk.
22490_5a363b-20> |
Strawberry Milk 22490_3addb7-0f> |
Chocolate Milk 22490_c6bfcd-a8> |
---|---|---|
Sodium 22490_11b5ab-49> |
100mg 22490_be4c9c-de> |
130mg 22490_716d2d-3d> |
Potassium 22490_10a36b-6d> |
310mg 22490_8013e7-7e> |
360mg 22490_66c679-b5> |
Iron 22490_50b01c-7b> |
0mg 22490_4cb77d-65> |
0.7mg 22490_d9827b-c3> |
*Nutritional information based on ready-to-drink beverages.
An important factor to consider when reviewing beverage options, especially when it comes to children’s diets, is the amount of sugar per serving.
To that end, know that there is a difference between natural sugars, which occur organically in milk, and added sugars, which are added to foods during the manufacturing process.
Added Sugars
General recommendations by the U.S. FDA state that adult Americans should limit calories from added sugars to 10% or less of total calories.
A primary reason for this guidance is because foods with high added sugars deliver calories without essential nutrients, fiber, or vitamins.
Nesquik strawberry milk and chocolate milk contain 11 grams of added sugar per 8-ounce serving. With a 22% daily value, that is considered high.
Sugar is listed as the second ingredient (see below), which indicates a significant dominance in the formulation of the drink.
Note: Added Sugars used during the production of commercially processed foods may include fructose, maple syrup, cane juice, corn syrup, dextrose, and other sweeteners such as table sugar.
General nutrition guidance recommends limiting added sugars to less than 10% of total calories.
Ingredients
Various brands make flavored milks with the same ingredients, including milk, sugar, natural flavor, salt, gellan gum, vitamin A, and vitamin D.
All three brands of chocolate milk listed below use cocoa processed with alkali. Alkali is a chemical compound (a basic ionic salt of alkali metal) used to reduce the natural acidity and bitterness of cocoa and to enhance the flavor and color.
Ingredients in Organic Valley Chocolate Milk:Organic Grade A Low Fat Milk, Organic Unrefined Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa (processed with alkali), Organic Natural Flavor, Salt, Lactase Enzyme, Gellan Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.
Ingredients in Nesquik Chocolate Milk:Lowfat Milk, Sugar, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Calcium Carbonate, Cellulose Gel, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Carrageenan, Salt, Gellan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.
Ingredients in Nesquik Strawberry Milk:Lowfat Milk, Sugar, Calcium Carbonate, Cellulose Gel, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Carrageenan, Gellan Gum, Cellulose Gum, Citric Acid, Salt, Red 3, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.
Ingredients in Horizon Organic Chocolate Milk: Grade A Lowfat Organic Milk, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa (processed with alkali), Organic Cocoa, Gellan Gum, Organic Natural Flavor, Salt, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.
Ingredients in Horizon Organic Strawberry Milk: Grade A Lowfat Organic Milk, Organic Cane Sugar, Natural Strawberry Flavor, Gellan Gum, Vitamin A Palmitate, Vitamin D3.
As you can see from the lists above, there are a few ingredients that are unique to Nesquik’s brand of flavored milks, including Calcium Carbonate, Red 3, and Carrageenan.
To help you compare the options, here are brief definitions of these additives.
Health Benefits of Milk
As mentioned above, we specialize in providing data, information, charts, and reports on commercially processed and fast food. We do not provide dietary advice.
However, our staff spends the day researching, aggregating, and analyzing reports. Our efforts uncover a lot of amazing and helpful resources that we would like to share with our audience.
If you want to learn more about the potential benefits (as well as concerns) of drinking milk, review the following list of articles and resources.
Recommended Resources
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Nutrition facts, prices, and ingredients are based on available information as of the date of publication. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change recipes or formulations without notice. Check package labels and ask the product manufacturer or restaurant for the most up-to-date information. Unless otherwise stated, %DV is based on a 2,000 calorie diet. All reports and reviews published on this site are for informational purposes only. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide healthcare advice or dietary recommendations. Always consult your licensed physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.