Homemade Jello: A Pro-Metabolic Treat
Jello doesn’t just have to come from a box. With just juice, honey, a pinch of salt, and high-quality bovine gelatin, you can create a nourishing, pro-metabolic snack that supports digestion, balances blood sugar, and feels like a little indulgence.
In fact, homemade jello is a great example of how traditional foods can be brought back into modern wellness routines, and it tastes even better when you know it’s working with your body, not against it.
🍊 Simple Homemade Jello Recipe
Ingredients (serves 4–6):
3 cups fruit juice (orange, cherry, grape, or apple, ideally fresh or 100% juice without additives)
2–3 tbsp honey (adjust to taste)
Pinch of sea salt
3 tbsp bovine gelatin powder (Get the gelatin I use here)
Instructions:
Pour 1 cup of juice into a mixing bowl and sprinkle the gelatin evenly on top. Let it “bloom” for about 5 minutes.
In a saucepan, gently heat the remaining 2 cups of juice with honey and salt until warm (not boiling).
Stir the warm juice into the bloomed gelatin until fully dissolved.
Pour into a glass dish or molds and refrigerate for at least 3 hours until set.
Cut into squares or spoon into bowls, and enjoy!
Nutrition Stats
Serving size: 1/6 of recipe
Recipe yields: 6 squares
Calories: ~100
Protein: ~4 g
Carbohydrates: ~21.5 g
Fat: ~.1 g
🌱 Why Gelatin Supports the Pro-Metabolic Diet
In the pro-metabolic approach, influenced by the work of Ray Peat, gelatin is considered one of the most balancing proteins you can eat. Here’s why:
Balances muscle meats: Gelatin provides glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline, amino acids missing in muscle meats but abundant in skin, bones, and connective tissue. This balance reduces the burden of excess tryptophan and cysteine from only eating lean meats.
Supports digestion: Glycine and gelatin help strengthen the gut lining and ease digestive stress.
Promotes joint, skin, and hair health: Gelatin helps build collagen, improving skin elasticity, hair strength, and joint mobility.
Supports blood sugar balance: When paired with sugar (like fruit juice or honey), gelatin helps slow release and prevents crashes, providing steady energy.
Read more about the Pro-Metabolic diet here.
⏰ When & How to Eat Homemade Jello
Best times of day: Mid afternoon or evening. Many people find that a sweet, gelatin rich snack after lunch or dinner helps curb cravings and improves sleep (glycine has calming effects).
Pair it with:
A source of calcium (cottage cheese, milk, or cream topping)
Coffee with milk and sugar (classic Ray Peat combo)
A small salty snack (helps regulate blood sugar and fluid balance)
Homemade jello works especially well as a “bridge snack” when you need steady energy without the heaviness of a full meal.
📜 A Brief History of Jell-O
Gelatin has been used for centuries in European kitchens to make aspics and desserts, but it was labor-intensive. In 1845, a patent was filed for powdered gelatin, making it more convenient.
By 1897, Pearle Bixby Wait trademarked Jell-O, flavored with fruit syrups. The brand exploded in the early 1900s, becoming a household name in America thanks to clever advertising. While boxed Jell-O is nostalgic for many, it often contains dyes, artificial flavors, and additives.
Homemade jello brings this tradition full circle, keeping the fun, texture, and nostalgia while making it truly nourishing.
✨ Closing Thought
Homemade jello isn’t just a dessert, it’s a metabolic ally. By combining fruit sugars, minerals, and gelatin, you’re creating a food that’s easy to digest, balances the nervous system, and feels like a treat you can enjoy daily.
Learn more about the Pro-Metabolic diet here.
