Recipe of the Week: Chocolate Pudding

Chocolate Pudding with Toppers
Makes 6 Servings

One of the easiest ways to make chocolate pudding is to grab a 50-cent box of instant pudding mix. It’s convenient, but for us, the artificial flavors and colors – namely the red 40, yellow 5, and blue 1, are a turn off. For an all-natural, calcium-rich alternative, try our kid-friendly, made-from-scratch pudding. As for the toppings, choose the options your family likes best.

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 ½ cups 1% lowfat milk
1/2 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Toppings: Crushed Graham crackers, chopped nuts, granola, blueberries, raspberries, sliced bananas, sliced strawberries, light whipped cream

1. Whisk together the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk until well blended.

2. Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer, stirring constantly. Reduce the heat and continue to simmer, stirring gently, until the mixture thickens slightly, about 2 minutes.

3. Remove from the heat and stir in the yogurt and vanilla. Spoon the mixture into 6 individual serving bowls. Cover with plastic wrap or wax paper (this will prevent a film from forming) and chill for at least 1 hour. Sprinkle with toppings as desired and serve.

Nutrition Information per Serving (1/2 cup): 160 calories, 1.5g fat (1g saturated), 115mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate,1g fiber, 6g protein, 15% calcium

Janice Newell Bissex, MS, RD and Liz Weiss, MS, RD are The Meal Makeover Moms, and together, they’re on a mission to help busy families eat better. For more recipes, check out their blog, Meal Makeover Moms’ Kitchen or listen to their weekly podcast, Cooking with the Moms.

©MealMakeoverMoms.com