Chocolate Pudding - What's in a Mix?

If you're used to getting those "instant" boxed pudding mixes from the store that you only have to "add milk" to, you will love this recipe. Not only is it just as simple for you, your kids will enjoy a delicious and nutritionally sound treat without all the chemicals and artificial ingredients.

Let's take a closer look at the popular JELL-O Chocolate Pudding Ingredients (I was guilty of buying this at one time!)

SUGAR, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, COCOA PROCESSED WITH ALKALI, DISODIUM PHOSPHATE (FOR THICKENING), CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVOR, SALT, TETRASODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE (FOR THICKENING), MONO- AND DIGLYCERIDES (PREVENT FOAMING), RED 40, YELLOW 5, BLUE 1, ARTIFICIAL COLOR, BHA (PRESERVATIVE). *AMOUNT IN DRY MIX.


Sugar: The very first ingredient means this entire box is full of it. Given that over 90% of sugar in the United States comes from Genetically Modified Sugar Beets, you are eating a food that has been proven to increase the growth of cancer cells in animal testing.

Modified Cornstarch: Over 95% of the corn grown in the United States is genetically modified, thus, so is cornstarch, unless it says otherwise.

Natural and Artificial Flavor: MSG, as well as a lengthy list of disgusting ingredients. Castoreum is a popular ingredient that companies list as "Natural Flavoring", although it is typically found in Vanilla and Raspberry flavored processed food. To read more about Castoreum, click here.

Red 40, Yello 5, Blue 1: Banned and considered dangerous and unhealthy in countries all around the world, except the United States.

BHA (Butylated Hydroxyanisole): A chemical compound created to halt rancidity in foods. It has been linked to allergies, and is a suspected carcinogen according to the National Toxicology Program's Twelfth Annual Report on Carcinogens (2011). Read more here.

There is absolutely nothing healthy or beneficial in this box, and adding sugary milk that contains growth hormones and antibiotics, is a recipe for disaster.

After experimenting with a few different recipes, I decided to recreate my own chocolate avocado pudding that was a bit healthier.

The results?

Pure chocolate heaven. The consistency is thick and creamy, and the flavor is bursting with decadent chocolate. You do taste the peanut butter (although the chocolate is overpowering), so if you're not a fan of the flavor combo, cut the peanut butter in half or skip it altogether. I think it adds another dimension that you wouldn't want to miss, but you be the judge!

Click here for the Recipe!

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