EAT YOUR JELLO DAY
EAT YOUR JELLO DAY
July 12 gives us the perfect, wiggly excuse to indulge in America’s most iconic dessert--Jello! Whether you like it molded into a masterpiece, stacked in a vibrant rainbow, or straight out of a plastic cup, Eat Your Jello Day is all about celebrating the joy of the jiggle.
#EatYourJelloDay
Like most things, gelatin was considered a delicacy reserved for the wealthy elite. Gelatin consists of collagen, specifically animal collagen. It's a protein extracted from the connective tissues of cows and pigs. The resulting liquid then had to be repeatedly strained, skimmed of fat, and clarified (often using egg whites) to make it perfectly clear and free of animal odors. Once the protein is broken down and extracted, the collagen is dried and ground into a fine powder. The process alone required extra staffing of domestic servants.
Jiggly Jello Timeline
The Jello Patent
Peter Cooper patented a powdered gelatin dessert, though he didn't market it.
Pearle Wait
Cough syrup manufacturer Pearle Wait bought the patent. He and his wife, May, added sweet fruit syrups, such as strawberry, raspberry, orange, and lemon, and May gave the treat its famous name: Jello.
Orator Francis Woodward
Frustrated by slow sales, Wait sold the formula to his neighbor, Orator Francis Woodward, for a mere $450. Through his brilliant marketing of distributing free recipe books illustrated by artists like Norman Rockwell, Woodward turned Jello into a household staple.
Jello has been the subject of many classroom art and science projects throughout the years. From the study of viscosity and laser beams to gelatin artwork, Jello inspires in and outside the kitchen.
Eat Your Jello Day specifically tells us to eat. So, whether it is molded, layered, or mixed with fruit, vegetables, or marshmallows, be sure to have some. It's delicious as a salad, dessert, or even a shot. Jello doesn't break the budget either, nor does it add too many calories. Where can you go wrong?
HOW TO OBSERVE EAT YOUR JELLO DAY
Get Creative in the Kitchen and build a multi-layered rainbow dessert or dust off a retro, elaborate 1950s Jello mold!
Grab the kids and make a batch of classic "Jello Jigglers" using cookie cutters to stamp out fun, bite-sized shapes.
If you're hosting a summer barbecue, mix up a batch of nostalgic Jello shots for your 21+ guests.
Keep it simple by making Jello parfaits for a simple dessert.
Take a video or photo of your wobbliest culinary experiments and share them on social media using the hashtag #EatYourJelloDay.
EAT YOUR JELLO DAY HISTORY
We were unable to identify the creator of Eat Your Jello Day despite the extensive history behind Jello. We're continue to enjoy Jello while we research.
