Chocolate Cows

So like most amateur triathletes, I am always looking for that next nutrition tip, supplement, gel; but this entry focuses on post-workout recovery drinks. Generally, I am a Gatorade or sports drink fan. The problem arises that there is no protein in those drinks, which seems to be an important component to post training recovery nutrition.

So that brings me to chocolate milk, which I first noticed being handed out after the Cleveland Marathon and immediately thought was odd. (Actually, my first thought was to gag a little bit because I could not imagine stomaching it at that moment.)

Now, I have since come to learn that low-fat chocolate milk is supposed to be a great recovery drink because of the amount of protein, carbs and vitamins that are contained in chocolate milk. But still, through the summer, I had a difficult time thinking of stomaching it after a workout or race.

I tried Muscle Milk, which comes in every flavor under the sun – Chocolate, Strawberries-n-Cream, Mint Chocolate Chip etc. You would think I would have no problem with that kind flavor spectrum, but as soon as I open a bottle I smell that GNC-store smell that I remember from the mall as a kid and I have to hold my nose to get it down.

Maybe it comes from when I was kid and was forced to drink hot chocolate by a friend’s mom even though I said I did not like it. She actually forced me – like I didn’t know I did not like it. She paid for that decision, because I retched all over her kitchen. Oops. Now I cannot even smell hot chocolate with wanting to dry heave.

With that said, I wanted to change up my post training recovery drink, so this week I started drinking a serving of chocolate milk after big sessions. So far so good, but now I will have to monitor the results and whether I will be investing in a chocolate cow.

Editor’s note: Conversely, I buy Swiss Miss with Mini-Marshmallows Cocoa packets in bulk at the neighborhood wholesale club. Yum…hot chocolate…all warm and chocolaty…smooth and creamy with melted marshmallows…burning my tongue because I can’t wait for it to cool...