National Chocolate Milk Day

Today is National Chocolate Milk Day. Who doesn't love slurping on chocolate milk with a splash of ice cream and whipped cream (with a cherry on top)? So, this morning add some Nesquik in that glass with a dollop of Gookie Dough, or even better, enjoy a bowl of Coco- Pops because that is definitely a win-win situation!

(Image credit: Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts) 

The history of chocolate milk 

According to the Natural History Museum in the UK, the credit goes to Sir Hans Sloane who was an Irish botanist. Sloane spent some time in Jamaica in the early 1700's where local people gave him cocoa to drink. However, Sloane found that it made him feel sick but when mixing it with milk, it was a lot better. When Sloane returned to England, he bought the mixture with him and for many years, it was sold as a medicine (wow, how medicine tastes have changed). 

However, the accuracy of this is a little hit and miss. Apparently, Jamaicans were brewing hot beverages from shavings of freshly harvested cacao, boiled with milk and cinnamon as far back as 1494. Chocolate has been known to humans as far back as 350 B.C. It's hard to believe that Sloane was the first to think of this. 

Fast forward a little 

(Image credit: BBC Good Food) 

Until the 1820's, drinking chocolate was still fairly uncommon and no one knew how to produce a smooth texture that was a liquid. In 1828 the Van Houten company in Amsterdam invented the cocoa pressing method which produced a chocolate powder that can dissolve in liquid. 

The benefits 

Chocolate milk has some great properties along with being super delicious. In 2006, the dairy industry did a study and discovered that it helps athletes with muscle recovery and provides nine essential nutrients. Chocolate milk also contains fluid and electrolytes for hydration and the carbohydrates replenish energy stores for the next practice. chocolate in the milk boosts the carbohydrate supplied to the muscles and liver and guess what is an affordable treat which is beneficial to the body. Now you don't need to feel guilty!

Happy National Chocolate Milk Day, Gookie Monsters!!

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