Football Coaches and Athletes Discover Benefits of Chocolate Milk (2/08)

The dairy checkoff program reached more than 170,000 people in February with information on the health benefits of dairy and its role in sports nutrition and exercise recovery.

Research suggests that chocolate milk has a unique combination of protein, carbohydrates and electrolytes that help refuel tired muscles and restore lost fluid after exercise.

With hopes of increasing milk sales in schools, the American Dairy Association Mideast (ADAme) talked with over 2,900 high school football coaches at Frank Glazier Football Clinics in Toledo, Cleveland and Cincinnati to explain the research and encourage the use of chocolate milk as part of an athlete’s daily regiment.

Cal Dietz, head Olympic strength and conditioning coach from the University of Minnesota, provided a workshop at the Clinics on behalf of ADAme, talking about athletic training and the potential of chocolate milk.

“We educated coaches on the benefits of chocolate milk for exercise recovery and found many success stories of coaches already refueling their athletes with chocolate milk,” said Mark Inkrott, school marketing manager for ADAme.

The dairy promotion program also shared the benefits of chocolate milk at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, the largest health and fitness exposition in the nation with more than 17,000 athletes and 150,000 fitness fans from around the nation attending. Everyone who visited the chocolate milk booth received samples of chocolate milk and a commemorative 3-A-Day of dairy cup.

“With so many youth athletes and families visiting our booth, the Expo was the perfect place to promote chocolate milk,” said Mike Sieminski, registered dietitian for ADA Mideast. “Not only as an exercise recovery aid, but also as another way to get the recommended three daily servings of milk, cheese or yogurt.”