JELL-O Vanilla Cook & Serve pudding is one in a long line of JELL-O gelatin and pudding products. JELL-O is owned by the Kraft family of brands. The pudding is convenient and easy to prepare. JELL-O Vanilla Cook & Serve pudding is a healthy choice for a dessert, especially if prepared with fat-free or lactose-free milk, and is a good source of calcium and other nutrients.
Ingredients
JELL-O Cook & Serve Vanilla pudding contains sugar, cornstarch, modified cornstarch, salt and dextrose, which is a form of sugar. It also contains calcium carrageenan, obtained from seaweed, as a thickener. Polysorbate 60 prevents scorching and is an emulsifying agent. Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 are dyes used for coloring the pudding and are generally regarded as safe, or GRAS, by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The pudding mix contains natural and artificial flavors, which may be derived from chemicals or produced synthetically. The human body does not recognize artificial and natural flavors as food, so they are not metabolized by the digestive system, according to FDA.
Nutrition
One serving of JELL-O Cook & Serve Vanilla pudding mix, without the milk, contains 80 calories. The total carbohydrate count is 21 g, which represents 7 percent of the daily value, or DV, and 16 g of sugar. The JELL-O mix contains 15 percent DV for calcium, but, when prepared with milk, the calcium content is much higher -- 149 mg more.
Given that 3 cups of milk are used for 6 half-cup servings to prepare the pudding, nutritional benefits can be calculated according to the type of milk used. Vanilla JELL-O Cook & Serve pudding prepared using regular milk increases the calorie content by 78, the carbohydrate and sugar content by 6 g andthe fat content by 4 g. Using 1 percent low-fat milk adds 51 calories, 6 g of carbohydrates and sugars and 1 g of fat. Pudding made with skim milk adds 42 calories, 6 g of carbohydrates and sugar and no fat.
The addition of milk makes Jell-o Cook & Serve pudding a good source of calcium, with 149 to 152 extra grams per serving, according to USDA National Nutrient Database. The milk also adds 4 g of protein as well as vitamins A and D.
Sodium
One serving of JELL-O pudding contains a high amount of sodium: 135 mg. Although sodium is essential for your nerves and muscles, the recommended daily limit for sodium by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans is no more than 2,300 mg a day --- 1,500 mg for age 51 and older. Amounts above that limit may contribute to heart and kidney disease, stroke and congestive heart failure. Some people are more sensitive to the effects of sodium, leading to fluid retention or elevated blood pressure.
Health Concerns
Vanilla JELL-O Cook & Serve pudding contains some ingredients that could induce an allergic or adverse reaction in some individuals. (See Reference 2: Allergens) The flavor enhancer, monosodium glutamate, or MSG, may cause symptoms, such as migraine headaches, in hypersensitive people. Cornstarch in Some ingredients in JELL-O pudding can cause hives, headaches and stomach problems, according to AllergicChild.com. The artificial food coloring Yellow 5 is suspected of causing hyperactivity in children. The Center for Science in the Public Interest in the U.S. has suggested that the FDA ban the dye in foods; the U.K. has already banned it.
References
- Amazon.com: Jell-O Cook & Serve Pudding & Pie Filling, Vanilla
- FoodFacts.com: Jell-O Cook & Serve Vanilla Pudding & Pie Filling
- My Fitness Pal: Calories in Jell-O (Jello) Cook & Serve, Vanilla Pudding (Mix Only)
- USDA National Nutrient Database
- MayoClinic.com: Sodium: How to Tame Your Salt Habit Now
- AllergicChild.com: Corn Allergy
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