Is chocolate milk a reasonable source of protein in a child?

What the evidence says

Chocolate milk has almost the same amount of protein as plain milk, because the protein comes from the milk itself, not the chocolate flavoring. So yes, it can genuinely help a child meet their daily protein needs.

The Canadian Paediatric Society says children aged two to eight years need about 13 to 19 grams of protein a day, and two cups of cow's milk provides around 16 grams, covering most of that need. Chocolate milk would provide a very similar amount, since it's still made mostly of regular milk.

The catch is added sugar. Health Canada recommends unsweetened milk over chocolate milk for young children specifically because of the extra sugar, not because chocolate milk lacks protein. Extra sugar can add unnecessary calories and may encourage a preference for sweet drinks over plain milk or water.

So chocolate milk is not a bad protein source, but it is not the best choice either. If your child already drinks plenty of plain milk and eats a varied diet, occasional chocolate milk is not a concern. If they rely heavily on it, mixing it half-and-half with plain milk, or offering it only sometimes, keeps the protein benefit while cutting back on added sugar.

One more note: children under two should not have flavored milk at all, since guidelines say added sugars should be avoided in this age group and plain whole milk is recommended instead.