NutriMix vs Horlicks vs Complan: Which Is Healthier for Kids?
These three products occupy the same category in most Indian homes - the daily milk mix that goes into a child's morning glass. They are marketed similarly. They are priced differently. But they are built on fundamentally different ingredient philosophies.
This comparison focuses on what actually matters for a child's health: the base ingredient, sugar content, protein source, and micronutrient delivery.
How to Compare Nutrition Powders Fairly
Before the comparison, the criteria need to be clear. For a daily kids' nutrition drink, the most important factors are:
- Base ingredient - what is the first item on the ingredient list? (is it natural and millets)
- Third Party Lab testing - GMP certified? Third-party tested?
- Added sugar content - (look for no refined sugar content)how much per serving, and in what form?
- Protein source - whole food based or isolated?
- Vitamin D3 and calcium - both present and paired?
- Artificial additives - No added colours, No added flavours, No added preservatives?
Little Joys
The Comparison
Base Ingredient
Horlicks and Complan both list refined wheat flour and sugar among their primary ingredients. This means the base of the product - the substance your child consumes most of - is a refined carbohydrate. Refined wheat flour has a high glycaemic index, minimal fibre, and most of its natural minerals have been processed out.
NutriMix uses ragi (finger millet) and bajra (pearl millet) as its primary base. These are whole grains with intact fibre, naturally occurring calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium - and a lower glycaemic index than refined wheat. The nutritional value starts from the base grain, not from synthetic additions layered on top of it.
Sugar Content
Horlicks and Complan contain significant added sugar per serving. This sugar contributes to daily sugar load for children who are already consuming sugar through other foods and drinks.
NutriMix contains zero refined sugar. It is sweetened with jaggery and dates - both lower glycaemic index alternatives that provide trace minerals alongside sweetness. For a product given daily, this difference compounds significantly over months.
Protein Source
Complan uses milk solids as its primary protein source. Horlicks uses malted barley and wheat alongside milk proteins.
NutriMix uses moong dal, peas, brown rice protein, almonds, and walnuts as protein sources - plant-based, whole-food-derived, and providing a broader range of micronutrients alongside protein.
Vitamin D3 and Calcium
Horlicks and Complan include vitamin fortification, but the form of Vitamin D may not always be D3 (cholecalciferol) - check current product labels for the active form.
NutriMix delivers Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol from a vegetarian lichen source) paired with calcium - the combination needed for effective bone mineralisation.
Artificial Additives
Horlicks and Complan include artificial flavours and colours in their formulations.
NutriMix contains no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives.
Manufacturing Standards
NutriMix is GMP certified and third-party tested, with publicly accessible lab reports.
Summary Table
| Criteria | NutriMix | Horlicks | Complan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base ingredient | Ragi, bajra (whole grains) | Refined wheat, malt | Refined wheat, milk solids |
| Added sugar | Zero refined sugar | Contains added sugar | Contains added sugar |
| Protein source | Moong dal, peas, nuts | Wheat, milk | Milk solids |
| Vitamin D form | D3 (cholecalciferol) | Check label | Check label |
| Artificial additives | None | Present | Present |
| Third-party tested | Yes | Not publicly stated | Not publicly stated |
What This Means in Practice
For a child drinking one glass daily over a year, the base ingredient and sugar content are the variables with the biggest cumulative health impact.]
A product built on whole millets with zero refined sugar is delivering fibre, natural minerals, and a lower glycaemic load with every serving. One built on refined wheat and sugar is delivering calories with vitamins added - not the same thing nutritionally.
The decision also affects gut health. Ragi and bajra fibre feed beneficial gut bacteria. Refined wheat in a sugar-based drink does the opposite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are Horlicks and Complan harmful?
They are not harmful as occasional drinks. As a daily product consumed over years, the sugar content and refined base ingredients are worth considering against better-formulated alternatives.
Q: Is NutriMix more expensive than Horlicks or Complan?
NutriMix is priced comparably to premium variants of established brands. For the nutritional difference - whole grain base, zero refined sugar, GMP certified - the price difference per serving is minimal.
Q: My child has been drinking Horlicks for years - should I switch?
A transition is worth considering if your child is a picky eater, frequently falls ill, or has low energy. Switching gradually - mixing both for 1-2 weeks - helps most children accept the new taste without resistance.
Q: Does NutriMix taste as good to children?
The chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla variants are formulated to be palatable to children from age 2. Most children accept it well, particularly when introduced during a transition from another product rather than cold.