If I were to write a love poem to one of my favorite childhood drinks, that’s probably how I’d start it. But of course, if it were an ode to Ovaltine, then the “Jug of Ovaltine” and “Thou” would be a little redundant. That’s okay. I think you get the idea.
You know how you have those flavors from your childhood that just instantly give you comfort and take you back? I have to confess that Ovaltine does that for me. When I recently met their reps at the Type-A Parent conference, I think I overwhelmed them with my enthusiasm for the drink. I think the exchange went something like this:
“Hi, I’m Fadra.”
“Hi there. Would you like to try a sample of our new improved recipe?”
“Oh sure, I’d love to try it. In fact, I’ve been drinking Ovaltine since I was a kid. My mother was a big lover of Ovaltine and it’s all she gave us. I loved chocolate milk but she drank it because she loved the taste and knew it was packed with vitamins. It was in the orange jar. Do you remember the brown glass jar with the orange label? Which flavor was that? That was the flavor I always had. And my mother has several Ovaltine shakers. She has a plastic shaker and a metal shaker embossed with the word Ovaltine. So what do your recommend – shaking or stirring your Ovaltine?”
I’m not sure if they were impressed by me or frightened. But a few weeks later, here I am working with Ovaltine and spreading some of my enthusiasm with you.
Just in case you don’t believe me or doubt my childhood attachment to Ovaltine, I asked my mom if she might share some of her “collection.” Some moms collect little cutesy statues or sequined Christmas sweaters for the holidays. My mom collects Ovaltine stuff. That’s how big it is in my family.
The jars are a big thing. The one I remember most from my childhood was a short, fat, brown glass jar with an orange label. Yes, they really used to use glass jars. You’ll see some of the modernized versions of it here. Apparently, we always drank chocolate malt flavor.
As for the other jars? My mom is 25 years older than me but those were probably a little before her time. Or from a different country. I told you she was a collector!
She also sent me this picture, which I had never seen before. It’s a glass mixer she purchased from someone in England. It was made in the US but not really sure if it was sold here.
I guess it confirms what the Ovaltine reps told me when I asked if it should be shaken or stirred. The official company line is that Ovaltine is intended to be stirred. So I guess it’s settled.
Or is it?
My mom always shook her Ovaltine. And this is one of my favorite keepsakes of hers. It’s an old metal SHAKER. I totally hear what the company is recommending but my mom has been drinking this stuff since she was three years old (probably longer than most of them have been alive) so my vote is for shaking.
I’m wondering if you’ve ever had the chance to experience Ovaltine goodness. I’ve talked to some that say they’ve tried it and they don’t like it. I recently sampled the “New Improved Recipe” Chocolate flavor. While it sounds like marketing speak, it really is better than it’s been in the past few years.
I actually went out and got some right after the conference and it’s going to come in handy. I’m hosting an Ovaltine Awesome Wholesome Backyard BBQ this weekend where I plan to whip up some some healthy snacks using Ovaltine. Yeah, you can use it for cooking too. Who knew?
42 comments
I’m with you. Shake it! It gives the milk a nice, frothy quality and I swear it makes the chocolate taste richer. My favorite healthy summer snack is frozen yogurt.
TWeeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Getalonghome/status/91117567082627072
Favorite summer snack: Blueberries.
I went out and bought some Ovaltine after Type-A, too. It’s fantastic.
We used to make these… things (I don’t even know what category they would fit under) called Healthy Honeys. They were basically balls of chunky peanut butter, honey, and dried milk rolled around in crushed Chex cereal. Hmmm… I wonder if Ovaltine could be substituted for the dried milk.
Ah, Ovaltine was such a staple for me as a child. And yes, the jar was glass and brown with the orange label!! I can’t remember the last time I had some…but now I want to pick some up!
Healthy summer snack? Popsicle with fruit in it…refreshing, cool and easy!!
Ah, Ovaltine was such a staple for me as a child. And yes, the jar was glass and brown with the orange label!! I can’t remember the last time I had some…but now I want to pick some up!
Healthy summer snack? Popsicle with fruit in it…refreshing, cool and easy!!
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/mommythisnthat/status/91160027297099776
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/mommythisnthat/status/91160027297099776
I haven’t had ovaltine in YEARS! My favorite snack is a fruit salad 🙂
http://twitter.com/#!/atruckerwife/status/91162984038146048 and heres my tweet 🙂
thanks for the giveaway-I love watermelon and strawberries for a summer snack favorite
I loved the smell of watermelon and fresh shucked corn, oh, my god did I lived on a farm out in the sticks, grama made the best chicken fried, the corn, my brother and sister and I gathered it was put in a pot for maybe 5 minutes, and the watermelon sat in a big old barrell full of ice and water..the food tasted divine, it was always sunny and sometimes we ate in the big yard in front of the farm house for a summer treat, we stared at the stars until late and ate cold watermelon…I loved Ovaltine, grandparents rarely got it at the store for their once a month shopping, but when we all moved to the city after our Mother died, we had it plenty, summer to me is watermelon, fresh corn, fried chicken and staring at the stars on a warm summer day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!yummmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love the new ovaltine!
I think shaking is much better than stirring. I did not grow up in an Ovaltine family, and the first time I had it was after I was married, and my Ovaltine-loving husband made it for me. I’ve been hooked ever since.
My favorite healthy summer snack is berries. Of course, if I put them on ice cream, it lessens the healthy-ness, but we just won’t talk about that here.
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/fromtracie/status/91365248984039424
We always had Quik instead… I always wanted to try Ovaltine, but my mom never bought it…. And as an adult, I totally forgot about it.
Favorite summer snack – perfectly ripe cantaloupe… or Peaches cut up with a little bit of sugar in milk… YUM.
My favorite summer snack is frozen grapes. I can’t get enough!
My favorite summer snack is frozen grapes. I can’t get enough!
My favorite summer snack is frozen grapes. I can’t get enough!
Tweeted 🙂
http://twitter.com/jana0926/statuses/91584292441964544
My mom used to make us Orange Julius twice a year, once at Christmas and once in the summer. It was one of, if not THE, most anticipated part of summer vacation in our house.
I like yogurt with strawberries! 🙂
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/#!/calidreamin87/status/92732491634458624
We love yogurt smoothies but are a huge fan of Ovaltine too! Ok, maybe on your level but we love it hot or cold for some healthy chocolatey goodness!
We love yogurt smoothies but are a huge fan of Ovaltine too! Ok, maybe on your level but we love it hot or cold for some healthy chocolatey goodness!
We love yogurt smoothies but are a huge fan of Ovaltine too! Ok, maybe on your level but we love it hot or cold for some healthy chocolatey goodness!
We love yogurt smoothies but are a huge fan of Ovaltine too! Ok, maybe on your level but we love it hot or cold for some healthy chocolatey goodness!
We love yogurt smoothies but are a huge fan of Ovaltine too! Ok, maybe on your level but we love it hot or cold for some healthy chocolatey goodness!
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/techsavvymama/status/93325540265701376
Favorite childhood memory would be having a shaving cream fight with all the neighborhood kids and then it turning into a water fight. It was so much fun.
A favorite snack for us is smoothies. It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is fruit smoothies are always good.
Favorite childhood memory would be having a shaving cream fight with all the neighborhood kids and then it turning into a water fight. It was so much fun.
A favorite snack for us is smoothies. It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is fruit smoothies are always good.
Favorite childhood memory would be having a shaving cream fight with all the neighborhood kids and then it turning into a water fight. It was so much fun.
A favorite snack for us is smoothies. It doesn’t matter what time of the day it is fruit smoothies are always good.
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/carrieloves/status/93498249503182848
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/carrieloves/status/93498249503182848
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/carrieloves/status/93498249503182848
Healthy summer snack foods are always fruit, fruit & more fruit… throw in some grilled veggies and you’re all set!
Healthy summer snack foods are always fruit, fruit & more fruit… throw in some grilled veggies and you’re all set!
Healthy summer snack foods are always fruit, fruit & more fruit… throw in some grilled veggies and you’re all set!
I suggest serving watermelon or canteloupe slices with a dash of sea salt.
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
I suggest serving watermelon or canteloupe slices with a dash of sea salt.
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/93498971330330626
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
http://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/93498971330330626
runningmatey at hotmail dot com