Is jell-o healthy?

[nycmom18]

just wondering...seems like it would be fun again!

[mamadelbosque]

IDK about healthy, but I make it from time to time, esp when DS1 is sick.

[Shellie]

It has artificial coloring and artificial flavoring and lots of sugar (or artificial sweeteners), so I don't consider it healthy....it's right up there with Kool-Aid in the unhealthiness department for me.

I grew up on it and so did my oldest dd (she's 15) so occasionally, we do make it as a "treat." My favorite flavor is strawberry. Yum! Reminds me of trips to Luby's!

[amma_mama]

We buy the more natural version (Hain, I think) with real sugar, vegetable-deirved gelitan and no artifical colors or flavors. Still not "healthy" - it is just flavored, thickened sugar water - but not so bad.

[lilyka]

I don't think it has a single healthy thing about it but it is sure tastey.

[staceychev]

Seriously, why is that gloopy stuff so darn appealing?

[Storm Bride]

Originally Posted by lilyka

I don't think it has a single healthy thing about it but it is sure tastey.

This.

We eat it very rarely. I don't want the kids developing a major Jell-O tooth. So, we have it as an alternate dessert at the family's big Christmas dinner. (This usually means that almost all the kids have Jell-O, and almost all the adults have the other dessert...a pineapple/whipped cream layered thing. We adults like the Jell-O, but we love the pineapple thing.)

[cristeen]

You can make a more healthful version with 100% juice and plain gelatin, but it's still just sugar water.

[moss]

i love real jello made with gelatin and fruit (and a touch of stevia). in the summer we stock up on organic peaches, strawberries, etc, and have a freezer full by the end of summer. strawberry jello made with real berries is one of my most favourite foods ever....

[nycmom18]

thanks everyone! good to know jello is just sugared water i never really liked it, but i always wondered why they gave it to patients who are sick in hospital-guess its just the consistency??

[tanyalynn]

Real gelatin, say the kind in homemade stock--the kind that makes refrigerated soup a solid block instead of a liquid--is easy to digest and very appropriate for non-vegetarian sick people. The downward spiral from that to gelatin with weird chemicals and lots of sugar is sadly typical of how our culture starts with a good idea and strips out the good and adds in bad.

[lilyka]

they give it to sick people because it is conidered a clear liquid and sometimes contains electrolites. Its something other than gatoraid or water.

[tinybutterfly]

Originally Posted by staceychev

Seriously, why is that gloopy stuff so darn appealing?

Because it wiggles!

Originally Posted by moss

i love real jello made with gelatin and fruit (and a touch of stevia). in the summer we stock up on organic peaches, strawberries, etc, and have a freezer full by the end of summer. strawberry jello made with real berries is one of my most favourite foods ever....

This sounds delicious! Especially the strawberry kind!

I used to love red jello, cherry or strawberry, with sliced bananas inside it when I was a kid.

[mommy212]

my mom always made it with fruit juice (use it instead of the cool water at the end), which i suppose makes it better but it's still not way up there on the healthy list for me... very low-cal though

[StrongBeliever]

The pre-packaged name brand mix kind of jello? Most certainly is NOT healthy due to all the artificial colors and flavors they put in there. Anti-healthy, in my book. But I think that you could probably formulate some relatively healthy stuff using unflavored dry gelatin. It doesn't have to be gelled sugar water. One table spoon of gelatin powder has 6 grams or protein. Gelatin is supposed to improve digestion when taken with meals, too. It's only going to be as good as the ingredients you put into it. I can imagine some yummo pureed strawberry and raw whole milk(um, half and half?*haha*) concoction. Coconut milk, banana, and pineapple(cooked, as the enzymes break down gelatin)? Fresh carrot juice and mandarin orange sections? In the end I think gelatin based desserts are just an interesting way to present foods that you already might be eating, but in a different way to add appeal. Rather than expecting it to provide the nutrients itself, I want to think of it as a glue to put together other more nutritious things with. now I wanna go make something wiggly.

[kyndmamaof4]

Originally Posted by StrongBeliever

The pre-packaged name brand mix kind of jello? Most certainly is NOT healthy due to all the artificial colors and flavors they put in there. Anti-healthy, in my book. But I think that you could probably formulate some relatively healthy stuff using unflavored dry gelatin. It doesn't have to be gelled sugar water. One table spoon of gelatin powder has 6 grams or protein. Gelatin is supposed to improve digestion when taken with meals, too. It's only going to be as good as the ingredients you put into it. I can imagine some yummo pureed strawberry and raw whole milk(um, half and half?*haha*) concoction. Coconut milk, banana, and pineapple(cooked, as the enzymes break down gelatin)? Fresh carrot juice and mandarin orange sections? In the end I think gelatin based desserts are just an interesting way to present foods that you already might be eating, but in a different way to add appeal. Rather than expecting it to provide the nutrients itself, I want to think of it as a glue to put together other more nutritious things with. now I wanna go make something wiggly.

Nice post.

[Princess ConsuelaB]

Jello has no redeeming value excepting....that it's fun Every once in a very great while it is fun.

My kids also know that is among the list of asked for things that is (to quote my grocery store-self) "NOT FOOD!", but that is why it is a special treat.

[Tummy]

Jell-O freaks me out!!!!!!!!!! I mean big time freaks me out.

I do not buy it or make it, but occasionally my kids will have it while at someone else home.

Every time I see/think of Jello it reminds me of the gelatin in disposable diapers and mommy pads. I cannot stand it! Truly FREAKS ME OUT!

[Chicky2]

Originally Posted by TanyaLopez

Real gelatin, say the kind in homemade stock--the kind that makes refrigerated soup a solid block instead of a liquid--is easy to digest and very appropriate for non-vegetarian sick people. The downward spiral from that to gelatin with weird chemicals and lots of sugar is sadly typical of how our culture starts with a good idea and strips out the good and adds in bad.

This.

ETA: We still use it occasionally. My kids do love knox blox!