What Is the Carbohydrate Count in a Sugar-Free JELL-O Pudding Snack?

JELL-O was developed in 1897; this fruit-flavored gelatin originally came in raspberry, strawberry, lemon and orange flavors. The JELL-O Company has offered sugar-free products since 1923. However, the development of individual JELL-O snack cups did not appear until 1990. Sugar-Free JELL-O Pudding Snacks are convenient treats that are lower in calories and carbohydrates than standard JELL-O pudding snacks.

Identification

One Sugar-Free Chocolate JELL-O Pudding Snack cup contains 14 grams of carbohydrates, which is approximately five percent of the daily total carbohydrates needed for a 2,000-calorie diet. Over 93 percent of a snack cup's calories come from carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates

Calories in Jolly Ranchers

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Carbohydrates are a necessary diet component, as they provide fuel for the body. Chemically, all carbohydrates are made up of sugar molecules, and some types consist of long chains of these particles. When you eat products containing carbohydrates, the body breaks down these chemical chains into basic sugar molecules through digestion, which increases the level of sugar in the bloodstream. Blood sugar is also called glucose, which is essential for brain power.

Recommendations

Sugar-Free JELL-O pudding snacks contribute some carbohydrates for your daily diet, but because they are sugar-free, they add fewer carbohydrates overall and contain less calories. According to the Institute of Medicine, the recommended amount of necessary carbohydrates is 130 grams per day from sources such as fruits and whole grains. Limit your carbohydrate intake from added sugars to no more than 25 percent of this total. Added sugars come from sources such as soda, candy, fruit drinks and desserts.

Glycemic Index

Foods Containing Sucralose

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When you eat carbohydrates, they increase your blood glucose levels, and the measurement of the effect of these carbohydrates on your glucose levels is known as the glycemic index. Foods with a high glycemic index quickly raise the blood sugar, but also increase the rate at which the body’s cells absorb glucose. This means that foods with a high glycemic index are more likely to give you a burst of energy, but this burst does not last for long. According to the Iowa State University Extension, foods that are high in fiber, fat content and protein have a low glycemic index. Because the calories of a Sugar-Free JELL-O Pudding Snack are mostly from carbohydrates, it has a higher glycemic index.

Sugar Alcohol

Sugar-Free JELL-O products that contain an artificial sweetener have carbohydrates in the form of sugar alcohols. Sugar alcohol is not actually alcohol, but a type of sweetener that has fewer calories than regular sugar. These types of products reduce the total amount of carbohydrates without sacrificing the snack's flavor. Sugar-Free JELL-O Pudding Snacks that are sweetened with Splenda contain seven grams of sugar alcohol.