Don't Forget the Ovaltine! Why You Should be Drinking this Tasty Treat

Ovaltine is a flavored powdered substance that can be added to milk to make a wholesome beverage. It has been around for a very long time
but has lost popularity in recent years.

A brief history of Ovaltine:

In 1904 a Swiss chemist named Dr. Wander was investigating the nutritional value of barley malt. He was able to extract a malt syrup using an inexpensive process and found that great healthful potential lie in that ingredient . Later his son added sugar, whey and other ingredients and formulated a product he originally called Ovomaltine. It was originally marketed to expectant mothers, children, athletes, and the undernourished.

After gaining success in Switzerland, the drink was introduced to the United Kingdom where it became known as Ovaltine and became very popular. The nutritional drink was known as wholesome and healthful and was even supplied to British troops in both world wars.

Uses for Ovaltine-- Traditional and creative:

Ovaltine comes in several flavors, including Chocolate Malt ( my favorite), Classic Malt, and Rich Chocolate.

When I crave chocolate or just need an afternoon energy boost I stir Chocolate Malt Ovaltine in a glass of ice cold milk.. It is only 170 calories per serving when mixed with skim milk and is a healthier snack than a chocolate bar or potato chips. Ovaltine has 0 grams of fat and only 15 grams of sugar. Compare Ovaltine to regular chocolate flavored milk which contains on average 226 calories, 8.6 grams of fat, and 32 grams of sugar per 8 fl. Oz.!

Ovaltine is the perfect quick snack for those times when you are in a hurry and need a quick but healthy pick-me-up.

Ovaltine is also a lot more versatile than you might think. I've used it on cereal, in yogurt ( it goes well with vanilla yogurt), and as added flavoring for a malt or ice cream shake. With a bit of creativity I believe ovaltine can be used as an ingredient in other foods as well.

Rich chocolate Ovaltine is a great substitute for chocolate milk. It is a lot less fattening and has more nutrition. Just pass it off as chocolate milk and your kids may never know the difference. By no means should you tell them, "it is good for you," because in "kid speak" this usually translates to, "it is yucky."

Some people complain about the vitamin aftertaste. I won't deny that Ovaltine tastes a bit of vitamins-- however, there is something satisfying about that taste. I can give myself a pat on the back for drinking something that, by golly, is good for me (or at least isn't bad for me like a delicious wonderful soda is bad for me).

Don't shun the vitamin taste! Embrace it.