Pudding is a diverse custard-like dessert that can be served as a main dish or added to a dessert for added moisture. It is also a popular snack to pack in your children’s lunchbox. If you have food allergies, you may wonder if pudding is safe for those with dietary restrictions.
Yes, pudding is gluten-free. Most pudding recipes use cornstarch as the thickening agent, which is gluten-free. However, it is important to read your product labels for any gluten additives. The best healthy gluten-free options are Simply Delish Chocolate Instant Pudding, Jimmy! Keto Pudding, Petitpot Vanilla Rice Pudding, Keto and Co Dark Chocolate Dessert Mix, and Zen Almond Milk Pudding.
In this article, we will discuss some popular pudding brands’ nutritional facts, and confirm if they are gluten-free or not. We will also dive into some healthy alternatives that are gluten-free.
Contents
What is Pudding?
Pudding is a custard-like dessert that comes in a variety of flavors. It is typically made out of milk, sugar, and a thickening agent. Different flavors of pudding can contain additional ingredients.
You can make pudding from scratch, purchase pre-made snack packs, or buy instant mix boxes. If you have any dietary restrictions, such as gluten intolerance, it is essential to read the ingredients label to ensure that the product does not contain any hidden gluten.
Some pudding recipes can be made with added ingredients to add flavor or texture, so keep an eye out for those add-ons if they will affect your dietary restrictions.
Is Pudding Bad For You?
Some pudding brands are high in sugar and contain little to no fiber or protein, making them not a healthy food choice. In addition to high amounts of sugar, some brands also use artificial flavors, sweeteners, and dyes.
Although they do not add any nutritional value, they do have sugar-free instant pudding mixes available for those watching their glucose levels. Sugar-free pudding mixes use artificial sweeteners to mimic the taste of sugar.
If you want to eat pudding as a snack, it is important to reach for brands that use organic ingredients and no added sugars. We recommend consuming products that use quality ingredients that have health benefits. Therefore, there are healthy options available for you to buy that will not ruin your diet.
Popular Pudding Nutritional Information
Jell-O White Chocolate Instant Pudding & Pie Filling Mix
Jell-O White Chocolate pudding contains no high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners. Just add milk, and the dessert is ready in as little as five minutes. This product is gluten-free because it contains no wheat products.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Modified Cornstarch
- Natural and Artificial Flavor
- Disodium
- Phosphate
- Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
- Salt
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Artificial Color
- Yellow 5
- Yellow 6
- Caramel Color
Nutritional Facts (Per ¼ Package):
- 90 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 330 mg Sodium
- 22 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Fiber
- 17 g Total Sugar
- 0 g Protein
Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Instant Pudding and Pie Filling
Hershey’s chocolate pudding promises to offer the same great taste like a Hershey’s chocolate candy bar. It is ready to eat within 30 minutes and should be refrigerated. This product does not contain any ingredients with gluten.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Modified Cornstarch
- Cocoa
- Sodium Phosphate
- Natural and Artificial Flavor
- Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
- Salt
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Artificial Color
- Red 40
- Yellow 5
- Blue 1
- Caramel Color
Nutritional Facts (Per ¼ Package):
- 100 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 450 mg Sodium
- 25 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Fiber
- 18 g Total Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Snack Pack Vanilla Pudding
Snack Pack vanilla pudding is made with real milk and no high-fructose corn syrup. This product is labeled gluten-free and Kosher.
Ingredients:
- Water
- Nonfat Milk
- Sugar
- Modified Corn Starch
- Palm Oil
- Salt
- Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate
- Disodium Phosphate
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Yellow 5
- Yellow 6
Nutritional Facts (Per Pudding Cup):
- 100 Calories
- 3 g Total Fat
- 1.5 g Saturated Fat
- 115 mg Sodium
- 17 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Fiber
- 12 g Total Sugars
- 0 g Protein
Dove Bourbon Vanilla Dark Chocolate Rich Indulgent Pudding Mix
Dove says that their chocolate pudding is made with only the best ingredients. The ingredients do not list any products containing gluten, so we can assume that it is gluten-free.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Food Starch Modified
- Cocoa
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate
- Disodium Phosphate
- Cellulose Gum
- Guar Gum
- Gum Acacia
- Salt
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Calcium Sulfate
- Cottonseed Oil
- Aspartame
- Acesulfate Potassium
- Red 40
- Yellow 5
- Blue 1
- Propyl Gallate
- TBHQ and Citric Acid
Nutritional Facts (Per ¼ Package)
- 80 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 260 mg Sodium
- 19 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Fiber
- 0 g Protein
Healthy Gluten Free Pudding Options
Simply Delish Instant Chocolate Pudding
Simply delish is made with natural flavors, sugar-free, and keto certified. Simply delish pudding products are also Non-GMO and gluten-free, making them a very healthy alternative to other popular brands.
Ingredients:
- Starch (potato)
- Erythritol
- Cocoa
- Emulsifiers
- Stevia Extract
- Salt
- Natural Flavor (Vanilla)
Nutritional Facts (Per ¼ Package):
- 30 Calories
- 0 g Total Fat
- 280 mg Sodium
- 9 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Fiber
- 0 g Total Sugars
- 1 g Protein
Jimmy! Keto Pudding Cups-Chocolate Fudge
Jimmy! Keto Pudding cups contain no added sugar and only 5 grams of net carbs, making this an ideal snack for those following a keto-friendly diet. Although this product contains peanuts, coconut, soy, and milk, it does not contain wheat, so it is gluten-free. This is an excellent option if you are looking for a high-fat, low sugar, healthy snack.
Ingredients:
- Soluble Corn Fiber
- Peanut Butter
- Salt
- Coconut Oil
- Allulose
- Water
- Erythritol
- Cocoa Powder
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Mono and Diglycerides
- Hydrogenated Soybean Oil
- Ascorbic Acid
- Citric Acid
- Ghee Butter
- Tocopheryl Acetate
- Organic Guar Gum
- Organic Gum Acacia
- Xanthan Gum
- Stevia
Nutritional Facts (Per 1 Container):
- 250 Calories
- 19 g Total Fat
- 13 g Saturated Fat
- 65 mg Sodium
- 43 g Total Carbs
- 18 g Fiber
- 5 g Total Sugar
- 4 g Protein
Petitpot Vanilla Rice Pudding
Petitpot Vanilla Rice Pudding is USDA Organic, and Kosher certified. Rice pudding is also gluten-free; the main ingredients in rice pudding are rice and water or milk.
Ingredients:
- Milk
- Cream
- Rice
- Cane Sugar
- Natural Vanilla Flavor
- Sea Salt
- Vanilla Bean Seeds
Nutritional Facts (Per 1 Jar):
- 160 Calories
- 8 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 30 mg Cholesterol
- 70 mg Sodium
- 16 g Total Carbohydrates
- 0 g Fiber
- 10 g Total Sugars
- 3 g Protein
Keto and Co. Dark Chocolate Dessert Mix
Keto and Co. mix offers many benefits for those with dietary restrictions. Aside from this dessert being carb-conscious and diabetic friendly, it is also gluten-free. They use no added sugars and Non-GMO ingredients to make their product. Keto and Co is a great guilt-free dessert alternative.
Ingredients:
- Wondrose Sugar Replacer
- Erythritol
- Non-GMO Soluble Corn Fiber
- Inulin
- Monk Fruit
- Natural Flavors
- Cocoa Powder
- Gelatin
- Xanthan Gum
- Salt
Nutritional Facts (Per ½ cup prepared):
- 110 Calories
- 10 g Total Fat
- 5 g Saturated Fat
- 25 mg Cholesterol
- 125 mg Sodium
- 140 mg Potassium
- 20 g Total Carbohydrates
- 10 g Dietary Fiber
- 1 g Sugars
- 2 g Protein
EJZ Foods Zen Almond Milk Chocolate Pudding
Zen almond milk pudding is USDA Organic, soy-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free. This is a great organic snack option for those with multiple dietary restrictions. It is also low in calories, but we would not recommend this for a keto-friendly diet.
Ingredients:
- Organic Hazelnut Milk
- Organic Cane Sugar
- Organic Corn Starch
- Organic Cocoa
- Natural Flavors
- Carrageenan
- Organic Sunflower Oil
- Evaporated Salt
- Organic Locust Bean Gum
- Almonds
Nutritional Facts (Per 1 Container):
- 110 Calories
- 2 g Total Fat
- 0.5 g Saturated Fat
- 55 mg Sodium
- 21 g Total Carbohydrates
- 1 g Dietary Fiber
- 16 g Sugars
- 2 g Protein
Final Thoughts
Wow! That is a lot of different brands and options to choose from. Pudding is a very diverse food product. From the looks of it, they have delicious pudding options available for all dietary needs.
Although most pudding ingredients do not include gluten, it is essential to read the label if you do have gluten intolerance or celiac disease. Some products can have hidden additives of gluten depending on the flavor.
All and all, pudding is a convenient, low-calorie snack that is likely to fit in your diet.
Related Questions
Is Pudding Vegan?
No, pudding is generally not considered vegan-friendly. A vast majority of pudding is made using dairy products, like milk. However, there are ways to make your pudding vegan-friendly by replacing the milk with almond or coconut milk.
Is Pudding Keto-Friendly?
Yes, pudding can absolutely be consumed while following a keto diet. There are several keto-friendly pudding options to choose from. We have mentioned a few above, such as Keto and Co Dark Chocolate Dessert Mix.
Can Pudding Be Dairy-Free?
Yes, dairy-free pudding options are available. If your diet restricts dairy, Zen almond milk chocolate pudding is an excellent option for you. This product is made using almonds and hazelnuts to make milk instead of cow’s milk.