Tapioca pudding is made from the starch of the tapioca root and is one of the most popular pudding choices in the JELL-O brand. While pudding can be a healthier dessert than high-fat options like cake, cookies and ice cream, it should still be considered a treat. Tapioca pudding contains ingredients that should be limited in a healthy diet, but it also has a few nutrients that benefit your health.
Calories
When choosing a treat or dessert item, pay attention to calorie counts, because many are too high in calories to be considered part of a healthy diet. Tapioca pudding is one option that is lower in calories than some other popular desserts, like pie and ice cream. A 4-oz. serving of traditional JELL-O tapioca pudding has about 110 calories, which is not bad for a small dessert if you stick to just one serving and eat it only on an occasional basis.
Fat
While the JELL-O brand does offer fat-free versions of tapioca pudding, the traditional recipe contains fat, the majority of it saturated. A 4-oz. serving of ready-made traditional tapioca pudding contains 1.5 g of saturated fat, which is close to 10 percent of your daily limit. The Mayo Clinic website notes that eating large amounts of saturated fat may increase your risk of both type 2 diabetes and heart disease. If you prepare your tapioca pudding from a dry mix, use skim milk to help cut down on the saturated fat.
Sugar
JELL-O does offer a sugar-free version of tapioca pudding, which is made with artificial sweeteners instead of real sugar. The traditional version of JELL-O tapioca pudding has a large amount of added sugar -- 19 g per 4-oz. serving. A diet that has a large amount of sugar adds calories to your diet without supplying much nutrition. Stick to one serving, or opt for the sugar-free version if tapioca pudding is a treat you regularly include in your diet.
Other Nutrients
Tapioca pudding is made with milk, which adds some bone-building calcium to your dessert. A 4-oz. serving of traditional tapioca pudding has about 80 mg of calcium. Tapioca pudding also supplies you with 2 g of protein and about 100 mg of potassium. Aside from these small doses of nutrients, tapioca pudding contains little in the way of essential vitamins and minerals.
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