Jell-O & Weight Loss

Jell-O is a popular gelatin made by the Kraft Foods Company. The Jell-O Diet features the low-calorie, sugar-free version of this wiggly snack. By eating Jell-O, you can achieve super-fast weight loss and have low-calorie snacks.

Jell-O is the brand name for gelatin produced by the Kraft Foods Company. According to Kraft, industrialist/inventor/philanthropist Peter Cooper obtained the first patent for a gelatin dessert in 1845. Although he packaged his gelatin in neat little boxes with directions for use, Cooper did very little with it. Home cooks still relied on sheets of prepared gelatin, which had to be clarified by boiling with egg whites and shells and dripped through a jelly bag before it could be turned into shimmering molds. This was a time-consuming process, very different from today’s Jell-O gelatin. In 1923, Jell-O went sugar-free.

There is never a shortage of fad diets.The Jell-O Diet is a new trend, promoted to shed pounds quickly. Dieters claim you can lose up to 20 lbs. in 20 days by eating only Jell-O. While losing weight that quickly is not the healthiest option, you can incorporate Jell-O into your daily diet to speed up weight loss and safely lose 1-2 lbs. per week.

Daily caloric needs will vary from person to person, and you can find out what yours is by visiting Nutritiondata.com. By choosing sugar-free Jell-O for several snacks daily and adding it to your meals instead chips or dessert, you can save hundreds of calories each day. Pre-made sugar-free Jell-O, found in your grocer’s refrigerator section, contains only 10 calories per serving. Boxed sugar-free Jell-O, as reported by Calorieking.com, has approximately 10 calories per ¼ box. While the nutritional content of this product won’t add up to your daily needs, it can be a low-calorie snack exchange if incorporated with a healthy diet .

Jell-O is perfectly satisfying and quick to snack on alone, but it can also be combined with other foods. There are many versions of Jell-O salad, and a big crowd favorite is the low-fat Watergate salad, which uses Jell-O instant pudding. To make it, mix together 1 oz. pistachio pudding mix, 1 8 oz. can of crushed pineapple and 1 cup of vanilla low-fat yogurt and whisk until blended Stir in 2 cups of thawed fat-free whipped topping. Refrigerate for an hour. Serve topped with remaining whipped topping.

Jell-O can also be used in a quick guacamole dip. Stir 1 cup of boiling water into one package (four-serving size) of lemon-flavored sugar-free Jell-O. Stir for 2 minutes until the gelatin is completely dissolved. Pour into a blender and add 16 oz. of low-fat cottage cheese, a medium chopped avocado, 1/2 cup chopped green onions, 1/3 cup pickled jalapeno slices and 1/4 cup lemon juice. Blend on low speed for about 2 minutes, stopping occasionally to scrape down the side of the blender. Pour into a shallow serving bowl, cover and refrigerate 4 hours. Serve with fresh vegetable pieces or low-fat tortilla chips.

There are numerous interesting toppings that Jell-O dieters are piling on top of their jiggly snacks. Low-calorie whipped topping, light cream cheese, nuts and fruit are just a few. There are seemingly unlimited versions that you can create to make this snack absolutely out of this world; just make sure you are adding low-calorie toppings for the diet to be successful.