Snack Pack chocolate pudding is a popular convenient dessert or snack for both kids and adults. With its rich chocolate flavor and creamy, smooth texture, it’s easy to see why people love it. But is it a healthy choice or should you limit how much of it you eat? To figure that out, let’s look at the calorie count and other nutrition facts for Snack Pack chocolate pudding.
Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding Nutrition Facts
The number of calories in Snack Pack chocolate pudding depends on the specific variety you choose. Here are the nutrition facts for some of the most popular options:
Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding Cup
Snack Pack makes single-serve chocolate pudding cups that are ready to grab for a quick snack. Here are the nutrition facts for one 4-ounce chocolate Snack Pack pudding cup:
- Calories: 100
- Total Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 160mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 20g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 16g
- Includes 14g Added Sugars
- Protein: 2g
Snack Pack Fat Free Chocolate Pudding Cup
Snack Pack also offers a fat-free chocolate pudding option. Here are the nutrition facts for one 4-ounce fat free chocolate Snack Pack pudding cup:
- Calories: 70
- Total Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 200mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 16g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 14g
- Includes 12g Added Sugars
- Protein: 1g
Snack Pack Reduced Fat Chocolate Pudding Cup
For a middle ground option, Snack Pack has reduced fat chocolate pudding cups. Here is the nutrition information for one 4-ounce reduced fat chocolate Snack Pack pudding cup:
- Calories: 80
- Total Fat: 1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 190mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 17g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 15g
- Includes 13g Added Sugars
- Protein: 1g
Snack Pack Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding Cup
For people looking to limit sugar, Snack Pack offers sugar free chocolate pudding cups. Here are the nutrition facts for one 4-ounce sugar free chocolate Snack Pack pudding cup:
- Calories: 60
- Total Fat: 1.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sodium: 235mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 8g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 1g
- Includes 1g Added Sugars
- Protein: 3g
As you can see, the number of calories per 4-ounce pudding cup ranges from 60-100 depending on the variety. The full fat chocolate pudding has the most calories at 100 per serving. The fat free option is lowest at just 70 calories. Sugar free comes in at 60 calories.
Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding Pack Nutrition Facts
In addition to individual cups, you can also buy Snack Pack chocolate pudding in multi-serve family packs. Here are the nutrition facts for these larger Snack Pack pudding options:
Snack Pack Fat Free Chocolate Pudding
If you buy the fat free chocolate Snack Pack pudding in a 4-pack with four 3.5-ounce servings per container, the nutrition information is:
- Calories per 3.5 ounce serving: 60
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 14g
- Total Sugars: 12g
- Protein: 1g
Snack Pack Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding
The sugar free chocolate Snack Pack pudding also comes in a 4-pack with four 3.5-ounce servings. Here are the nutrition facts per serving:
- Calories per 3.5 ounce serving: 50
- Total Fat: 1g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 7g
- Total Sugars: 1g
- Protein: 3g
Snack Pack Reduced Fat Chocolate Pudding
Finally, the reduced fat chocolate pudding packs contain four 4-ounce servings per container. The nutrition information per serving is:
- Calories per 4 ounce serving: 80
- Total Fat: 1g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 17g
- Total Sugars: 15g
- Protein: 1g
The Snack Pack chocolate pudding pack options range from 50-80 calories per serving depending on fat and sugar content.
Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding Ingredients
What goes into Snack Pack’s chocolate pudding that gives it its creamy texture, rich chocolate taste and smooth, pudding-like consistency? Here are the main ingredients:
- Milk – Milk and milk products like milk protein concentrate and whey make up the base of Snack Pack’s puddings. They give it a creamy dairy texture.
- Sugar – Sugar is one of the main ingredients in regular Snack Pack chocolate pudding. It provides sweetness.
- Cornstarch – Cornstarch thickens the pudding to give it a smooth, thick texture.
- Cocoa – Cocoa powder is what gives Snack Pack chocolate pudding its signature chocolate flavor.
- Flavorings – Vanilla extract, artificial flavor and salt are also typically added for flavor.
- Colorings – Colorings like caramel color and artificial food dyes give the pudding its dark chocolate color.
- Preservatives – Potassium sorbate and sodium phosphate prevent spoilage and extend shelf life.
In the sugar free and no sugar added varieties, sugar substitutes like sucralose and acesulfame potassium substitute for sugar to reduce calories and carbohydrates while still providing sweetness.
Chocolate Snack Pack Pudding Calorie Breakdown
Now that we know the ingredients, let’s take a look at how those ingredients translate to calories in Snack Pack’s chocolate pudding:
- Fat – There is minimal fat, ranging from 0-2g depending on variety. This accounts for minimal calories from fat.
- Carbohydrates – Carbs from sugar and other carbs like cornstarch make up the bulk of calories. There are 14-20g carbs per serving.
- Protein – Dairy proteins contribute minimal calories, with 1-3g protein per serving.
So the majority of calories in Snack Pack chocolate pudding come from carbohydrate sources like sugar. Fat and protein make up minimal calories.
Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding Vitamins and Minerals
In addition to macronutrients like fat, carbs and protein, Snack Pack chocolate pudding also contains some micronutrients:
- Calcium – Snack Pack pudding provides a good amount of bone-building calcium, with 10% DV per serving.
- Vitamin D – It also contains vitamin D for absorption of calcium.
- Potassium – Snack Pack pudding is high in potassium, an essential mineral.
- Phosphorus – You’ll also get some phosphorus and Vitamin A.
So Snack Pack chocolate pudding does provide some beneficial vitamins and minerals, mostly from the milk ingredients.
Snack Pack Pudding vs. Homemade Pudding
How does the nutrition profile of Snack Pack chocolate pudding compare to pudding you might make from scratch at home? Here’s how they stack up:
Calories and Macronutrients
Homemade chocolate pudding can have slightly fewer calories, fat and carbs if you use low or reduced fat milk and less sugar in your recipe. However, the differences are small since Snack Pack uses skim milk in many varieties.
Sugar and Additives
Homemade allows control over the amount of added sugar. You can use less sugar than Snack Pack’s typical 13-16 grams per serving. However, Snack Pack’s sugar free version has only 1 gram sugar so it can be just as low as homemade.
Snack Pack does contain additives like natural and artificial flavors, coloring and preservatives that homemade pudding won’t have.
Ingredients
The ingredients for homemade chocolate pudding are very similar to Snack Pack’s – milk, cocoa powder, sugar, cornstarch, vanilla extract. However, with homemade you can select higher quality ingredients, like natural cocoa powder and pure vanilla extract.
Convenience
The major advantage of Snack Pack pudding over homemade is convenience – no cooking or time required. Just grab and eat! So when time or convenience is a factor, Snack Pack can be the better choice over homemade.
Health Benefits of Snack Pack Chocolate Pudding
While chocolate Snack Pack pudding may not be the most nutritious choice, it does offer some potential health benefits in moderation:
- Protein – With 1 to 3 grams protein per serving, it provides a good protein boost.
- Calcium – Each serving contains 10% of the Daily Value for calcium for strong bones.
- Vitamin D – The vitamin D in pudding aids calcium absorption.
- Potassium – Snack Pack pudding is high in potassium, an important electrolyte.
- Probiotics – Some varieties have probiotics to support digestive and immune health.
Additionally, chocolate has some specific benefits like antioxidants that can help lower inflammation in the body.
Downsides and Things to Watch Out For
While Snack Pack chocolate pudding can fit into a healthy lifestyle in moderation, there are a few downsides to be aware of if you eat it frequently or in large amounts:
- Sugar content – With up to 16g added sugar per serving, going overboard can quickly put you over the recommended daily limit for added sugars.
- Lack of fiber – Snack Pack pudding contains no fiber, unlike whole food options like fruit.
- Artificial ingredients – The artificial flavors, colors and preservatives may be concerning for some people.
- Food colorings – Ingredients like caramel coloring and Red 40 have come under scrutiny for potential health impacts.
- Sodium – While not extremely high in sodium, it can add up if consuming multiple servings per day.
Who Should Limit Intake and Alternatives
While an occasional Snack Pack chocolate pudding can be fine for most healthy adults and kids, there are some groups that may want to limit intake or choose lower sugar alternatives:
- Individuals with diabetes or blood sugar concerns – The carbohydrate content can spike blood sugar levels.
- People with lactose intolerance – The milk-based ingredients contain lactose.
- Those limiting sodium – The 160-235mg sodium per serving could be too high for low sodium diets.
- People with artificial additive sensitivities – The dyes and flavors could potentially cause reactions.
- Children – It’s easy to overdo sugary snacks so limiting portions is important.
Some better alternatives would include:
- Snack Pack’s sugar free or lower sugar varieties
- Other brands with less additives and colors
- Dairy-free chocolate puddings
- Homemade chocolate chia pudding or chocolate avocado pudding
- High protein chocolate puddings
- Greek yogurt with cocoa powder and fresh fruit
Tips for Enjoying Snack Pack Pudding
Here are some tips to keep in mind so you can enjoy Snack Pack chocolate pudding as part of a healthy diet:
- Watch your portions – stick to one 4-ounce cup or a half cup serving.
- Pair with protein – mix in nuts or enjoy it with yogurt for more protein and nutrients.
- Reduce frequency – limit it to a couple times per week at most.
- Alternate varieties – switch it up with sugar free or other flavors.
- Think of it as an occasional treat – enjoy it more if you don’t overdo it.
- Balance with whole foods – eat it along with fruit, veggies and whole grains.
- Let it be one dessert option – don’t stack it on top of other sweets in a day.
Overall, savoring Snack Pack chocolate pudding mindfully and in moderation can let you enjoy the taste you love without overdoing calories, sugar or artificial additives.
The Bottom Line
Snack Pack chocolate pudding can be a tasty snack or dessert when consumed sensibly. While not the most nutritious choice, it does provide protein, calcium, potassium and other nutrients. Just watch your portions, read nutrition labels and balance it out with whole foods. Limit or avoid it if you have certain dietary restrictions or health conditions. But for most people, allowing yourself an occasional indulgence can be part of a healthy relationship with food.
