Journey Foods Nutrition Score Breakdown
- Jell-O Instant Vanilla Pudding Mix (prepared with 2% milk): 54/100
- Homemade Vanilla Pudding with Egg Yolks and Milk: 85/100
What’s in the Box?
Jell-O Instant Pudding is a nostalgic dessert shortcut — just add milk and stir. But that convenience comes at the cost of real ingredients:
- No actual dairy, eggs, or vanilla in the mix — flavor comes from “natural and artificial flavors”
- Thickeners first: modified cornstarch, tetrasodium pyrophosphate, and disodium phosphate do the heavy lifting
- Colorants and preservatives: includes Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 in some varieties
- Sweetened with sugar and artificial sweeteners (varies by flavor)
All of this earns Jell-O Instant Pudding a Journey Score of 54 — highly processed, low in nutrient value, and mostly texture and sweetness.
The Homemade Swap: Real Vanilla Pudding
Making vanilla pudding from scratch takes about 15 minutes and uses simple pantry staples. The payoff? Real flavor, better texture, and a higher nutrient profile.
Why it scores higher:
- Real eggs and milk for protein and richness
- Unprocessed sweeteners like cane sugar or maple syrup (optional)
- No artificial colors or flavors
- Customize your dairy and sweetness based on dietary needs
Journey Foods Nutrition Score: 85/100
Homemade pudding wins big for ingredient quality and the absence of synthetic additives.
Homemade Recipe: Classic Vanilla Pudding
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 2 cups whole milk (or any milk)
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: knob of butter for extra richness
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, whisk milk, sugar, cornstarch, and salt over medium heat until steaming.
- In a bowl, whisk yolks. Gradually whisk in hot milk to temper.
- Return mixture to the pan and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened (about 5–7 minutes).
- Stir in vanilla (and butter if using). Chill before serving.
Time Breakdown:
- Active Time: 10–15 minutes
- Inactive Time: 1 hour chill time (optional)
Cost Comparison (per ½-cup serving)
Option
Cost per Serving
Jell-O Instant Pudding (w/ milk)
~$0.45
Homemade Vanilla Pudding
~$0.55–$0.70
Homemade costs a bit more, but delivers richer flavor, better fats, and no questionable additives.
Final Take
Jell-O mix is fast and familiar, but it’s far from a whole-food dessert. Homemade pudding offers real vanilla, protein from eggs, and none of the artificial stuff — with a noticeably creamier texture and better nutritional profile.
