Everyone’s delight – Jelly / Erakina

Jelly is a colorful dessert that is quite popular among kids. Jelly is a clear and thick substance that is prepared from sugar, fruit juice, and other mixtures. Jelly or fruit jelly as we all know is a by-product of fruits. The acidic components of the fruits are heated to get a semi-solidified form and jelly is formed. Kids may be averse to fruits but fruit jelly is a delight for them and so does for grown-ups like us. 

Whenever jelly is mentioned, a smile pops up on our faces! We use jelly to sweeten and make exciting our breakfast. We use jelly as a spread for our toasts and bread. Even a jelly coating transform the pastries, cakes, and other confectionery items. Jelly has a big role in decorating food items, used as desserts, and preservatives. But jelly is high in sugar that is a cause for concern for the kids who love jelly.   

Some facts about Jelly

• Jelly is made by heating fruit juices and sugar along with a couple of preservatives. There may be artificial colors and flavors to enhance the taste.
• Jelly, jam, conserve, preserve, and marmalades are different kinds of jellied products. They are made of fruit preservatives but vary in the preparation process and the components. 
• The common ingredients of jelly are fruits or fruit juice, sugar, pectin, and acids.
• Your kid may not like certain fruits which are useful for him or her. Fruit jelly is an easy alternative to introduce your kids to the fruits useful for them. 
• Jellies are high in sugar components. Kids and even adults with a penchant for sweets prefer it.

• Jelly contains a lower calorie count but it does not make it a healthy substance. It is high in sugar and low in useful substances like fiber and proteins. 

Are jellies healthy?

Jellies are a part of our diet, especially it is served at breakfast applied to the toasts and bread. It is devoid of fat and has a lower calorie count. But the nutrient quotient of jelly is very low as it does not have any proteins, vitamins, minerals, or fibers. Hence jelly is not a healthy substance and frequent consumption may lead to serious consequences. You can understand the fact as I jot down the nutritional component of one serving of jelly:

• Calories – 266
• Sugar – 51 grams (equivalent to 12-13 teaspoons)
• Carbohydrates – 69 grams
• Dietary fiber – 1 gram
• Potassium – 54 milligrams
• Sodium – 30 milligrams

Dark side of your jelly

Jelly or precisely, fruit jelly comes in various colors. And we fall for those colorful jellies, but we rarely pay heed to such colors that we or our kids consume. The colors are due to the artificial colors that are products of petroleum. So you can imagine the danger level that jelly has in it and the kids are exposed to serious health hazards. There are other chemicals like carcinogen that promotes cancer. The next time you have jelly or your kid is having his or her refreshment, make sure the consumption level is limited. Several studies have shown that overconsumption of jelly and jelly products creates certain behavioral issues among kids. The artificial colors and flavors are susceptible to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in kids. The chemicals and preservatives are professed by the Food Administrators to use within limits, still, they can lead to serious health issues. 

You can make jelly at home

It is an effective solution to prepare the jelly at home. It is easy to prepare and you can use pure fruit extracts and natural preservatives to have the thing. Herein, you have the liberty to limit the use of sugar and avoid artificial flavors and colors that are harmful to health. In this way, you and the kids can have homemade pure jelly without any harmful chemicals. 

Bottom line on jelly

The mere mention of jelly transports us to our good younger days. We use to have bread or toasts just to have jelly. Jelly relishes our childhood memory and we want our kids to experience the same. Simultaneously, remember its harmful effects and try to get the kids used to homemade jellies rather than the commercial ones available at the market.