Forget all of the high-priced sports drinks and take yourself back a little. Remember a time when a cold glass of chocolate milk fixed everything. It still (kind of) can. The majority of people have no need for a post workout recovery drink and the ones who do are probably shocked to hear me say that chocolate milk is one of their best options. It’s true, I promise I’m not losing it.

To encourage energy production and muscle recovery, you’re post workout drink should contain a balance of protein and carbohydrates. Contrary to popular belief, this does not put Gatorade (or many of the other high-priced sports drinks) into the recovery drink hall of fame. Good old fashioned chocolate milk contains everything you need to properly refuel and rehydrate after a rough session at the gym. Not to mention it costs a great deal less! Just make sure you opt for fat-free.

One can’t ignore that chocolate milk contains a lot more sugar than other recovery drinks. All those excessive calories won’t do any good unless you actually work out hard enough to need the extra carbs and protein. Chocolate milk is best left for consumption after intense workouts, otherwise stick to water.