Dye Free No Sugar Jello for Kids

Recently, I was listening to an audio version of Dr. Fuhrman’s new book, The End of Dieting (which was awesome).  He was suggesting some healthy dessert ideas when he mentioned combining Agar powder with fruit juice and fruit to make jello. Curious because I hadn’t heard of it before, I checked it out the next time I was at the health food store.  I found the Agar powder in the baking aisle next to the standard gelatin.   It came in a bottle, that looked like a pill bottle.  It says it is a “naturally gelatinous powder derived from marine red algae.”

We were excited to try it! We haven’t eaten Jello forever.  So, I bought some and we got to work!

Now that it is summer, my kids actually are in the kitchen with me a lot! So, Erica (my 13 year old) took the reigns on this one.  All we did was:

1. Combine Welch’s white grape juice with agar powder (recipe below) and boil in a pot for 2 minutes.
2. Chop fruit while it was boiling.
3. Pour into jello mold
4. Add fruit

Then we waited for it to set up in the fridge.. Which only took about 1-2 hours. Unlike traditional jello, once set, you can actually take this jello out and leave it out at room temperature and it keeps it’s shape.  We made it three times this weekend!  Twice in the mold above, and once in little cups.

We loved it! You can use any 100% fruit juice of course, and any fruit.  Change it up and make it fun.

A tip:  Using the directions on the package of the agar powder was too rubbery!  Maybe your kids would like it. It reminded me more of a gummy fruit snack than jello. It was super stiff, rubbery, and sort of like plastic!  (the package called for 2 Tablespoons of Agar powder with 2 cups of water and cooking for 5 minutes).  The second time we cut it back to 1 1/2 teaspoons for 2 cups of liquid after watching the video of this cute lady making it. (She only used 1/2 teaspoon though)

Try it this summer! Let us know what your kids think.