Tip #382 Nutrition Nuggets; JELL-Oh

     Do you remember the old Bill Cosby Jello commercials? I was recently looking for Jello pudding pop recipes and stumbled onto a bunch of them on YouTube. And, as I remembered, they're very cute, and he is funny. What does Jello have anything to do with recovering from severe illness or trauma? Good question. Allow me to share with you my recent Jell - oh epiphany...
     You see, I fit into a small subset of people who have made a vow to never look at, taste, or even consider eating Jello ever again. No offence to the makers of Jello (Kraft), I don't think it has a single, solitary thing to do with the taste. No, I really don't. Just as the commercials are nostalgic, Jello is a reminder. The commercials take you back to time spent giggling in front of the TV as Bill Cosby does and says silly things while eating Jello  But the actual tangible Jello product takes you back to a very different time. It is a reminder.
     A reminder of what you ask? A reminder of being in the hospital and the feelings that come with severe illness and/or trauma. Jello seems to be a universal staple in every hospital in every country. BUT, and this is a good but... the type of Jello seems to be limited to the clear, slightly jiggly version. Why is this a good but? Because as it turns out, Jello has more products that are nothing like the jiggly version, and you can still do good things with it in the recovery world. Like making Jello instant pudding into pudding pops. A lot of people recovering from stroke, and those with abdomen or esophagus issues, or an inability to swallow certain textures, etc. are permitted to have Popsicles, and puddings too. Putting them together just makes it better!
    Again I say that it is not a good idea to start something new in your diet without consulting your dietitian, physician, or any other relevant team members. But if you can have pudding pops, we've been making a few versions here as of late and I have a few suggestions for you...

• Directions: Follow the Jello instant pudding directions on the box and fill the trays right away Or, do the same, but add real, genuine, not-the-fake-stuff maple syrup first... it's yummy. For that matter, you can add all sorts of flavours and colours, especially to the vanilla. Be creative!
• Freezing: If you can find a silicone ice cube tray, or puree tray (slightly bigger than ice cube tray (like this one at amazon.com) or a bigger, similar tray also at amazon.com or Dixie cups (small, waxy inside paper cups). Note, silicone makes it easier to get the pops out (can push up from bottom instead of breaking the handle by pulling it too hard).
• Handles: For smaller pops try toothpicks, or deli sandwich skewers; for larger use Popsicle sticks
• Whatever you are using for your handle (for lack of a better word), insert the handles after you put the plastic wrap (ie. saran) over the full tray. This way the sticks will stand up and stay that way until frozen.
• If you are using Dixie cups instead, each one should be covered with wrap, and then you may need to break the plastic a bit with the toothpick and then insert the Popsicle sticks. 

     As it turns out, I have found out that I really, really like Jello pudding! Why Jell-oh? Because this discovery has been filled with "Ohs" as in, "Oh, look at the kinds of pudding flavours they have - I thought there were chocolate, vanilla, and butterscotch only," and "Oh, butterscotch tastes even better when you add maple syrup" and "Oh, wonderful! Jello now has single serving pudding powder packets, so when we make them, we don't have to have 30 pudding pops of the same flavour before the trays are empty and ready to use again."
     Who knew that I'd ever agree with Jello's slogan "There's always room for Jello?" I didn't. But there does seem to be room all of the time now...

 Happy Jell-oh-ing!