Pauls Kids Bluey Custard Pouch Vanilla
Pauls Kids Bluey Custard Pouch Vanilla: independently scored 3.2/10 on Protein Score and 6.3/10 on Clean Score by ProteinScore.
2.4g protein per serve · 64 cal · 9g sugar · 46.2mg sodium · 70g serve.
Overview
This is a snack-sized custard pouch, not a protein-led yoghurt, and the numbers confirm it. With sugar as the third ingredient and a protein count below that of even basic, plain yoghurt, it's a lunchbox treat through and through. The convenience of the pouch format is the main drawcard, offering a portion-controlled sweet hit without the need for a spoon. Compared to the brand's own protein-focused lines, the difference is stark. The Pauls PLUS+ Protein Banoffee yoghurt pouch, for instance, packs in 6.7g more protein and an impressive 8.6g less sugar per 100g. This highlights a clear split in the Pauls range: the functional, higher-protein products for adults, and the sweeter, convenience-led snacks for kids. Against the broader yoghurt category, this custard underwhelms on the protein front, delivering just 3.4g per 100g, which is below the 4-6g benchmark for standard plain yoghurt. Its sugar content of 12.9g per 100g, however, sits right at the top end of what we typically see in flavoured yoghurts, cementing its place as a dessert-style product. Ultimately, we see this as a pure convenience play. It solves the problem of a quick, easy and mess-free snack for kids who will enjoy the sweetness. It's not designed for post-workout recovery or as a dense breakfast base, and the nutritional panel reflects that.
Protein Score: 3.2/10
Stacked against the brand's own PLUS+ Protein range, this custard pouch tells a story of two very different products. Where the protein-fortified yoghurts are built for performance, this one is built for the lunchbox, and its 2.2/10 for protein reflects that. The 2.4g of protein per pouch is minimal. That protein figure is lower than what you'd find in a standard, no-frills pouch of plain yoghurt. It offers very little in terms of satiety or muscle repair, making it unsuitable as a functional snack for anyone with protein goals in mind. Protein-per-calorie is also very low, confirming its position as an energy-first, protein-second snack. For a child, it's a simple custard treat. For an adult looking for a protein top-up, you would need to eat several pouches to get anywhere near the dose of a single serve of Greek yoghurt or a dedicated protein snack. It simply isn't built for that job.
Clean Score: 6.3/10
The use of thickener (1442) and stabilisers from soy (415) and seaweed (407) are the key drivers behind this product's clean score. While it avoids artificial sweeteners, the presence of these additives to manage texture gives it a 6.8/10, placing it slightly below the category average. These ingredients are common in shelf-stable and pouch-based dairy products. They ensure the custard remains smooth, thick, and doesn't separate over its shelf life, which is the trade-off for the convenience of a ready-to-eat pouch that doesn't require refrigeration before opening. The ingredient list is relatively short at nine items, and it starts with a real dairy base of milk and skim milk. However, for shoppers who prefer to stick to yoghurts with just milk and cultures, this processed custard won't fit the bill.
Wins
- Convenient 70g pouch is ideal for portion-controlled kids' snacks.
- Contains no artificial sweeteners or preservatives.
- Milk and skim milk are the first two ingredients.
Watch outs
- Only 2.4g of protein per serve.
- High in added sugar, with 9g in a small 70g pouch.
- Less protein than a standard plain yoghurt.
Ingredients
__Milk__, skim __milk__, sugar, thickener (1442), __milk__ solids, stabilisers (407, 415 (from soy)), flavour, colour (160a).
9 ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the sugar in this custard added or natural?
- The majority of the sugar in this product is added. The pouch contains 9g of sugar in a 70g serve, and with sugar listed as the third ingredient after milk and skim milk, it's a significant contributor to the sweet, dessert-like flavour. While milk contains some natural sugar (lactose), the high total sugar content confirms this is a sweetened product. We'd consider this a treat rather than a daily staple.
- How does this compare to other Pauls yoghurts for protein?
- This custard has significantly less protein than the brand's dedicated protein range. It provides just 3.4g of protein per 100g, whereas the Pauls PLUS+ Protein yoghurts deliver around 10g per 100g. That's a threefold difference, highlighting that they serve very different purposes. This Bluey pouch is a sweet snack, while the PLUS+ range is designed as a functional, high-protein food. If protein is your goal, we'd suggest grabbing a product from their PLUS+ lineup instead.
- Is this a yoghurt or a dessert?
- In our view, this is a dessert product that's marketed as a kids' snack. While it's found in the yoghurt aisle, its nutritional profile - low protein (3.4g/100g) and high sugar (12.9g/100g) - is more aligned with a custard or sweet treat. It doesn't contain the live cultures typical of yoghurt. It's a convenient, portion-controlled dessert, but not a replacement for a more nutritionally dense yoghurt.
- What do the thickeners and stabilisers do in this custard?
- The thickener (1442) and stabilisers (407, 415) are included to create a consistent, smooth texture and prevent the ingredients from separating. In a pouch format, these additives ensure the custard flows easily but isn't watery, and they maintain its quality over its shelf life. This level of processing is common for squeezable snacks. For shoppers aiming for a less processed product, a simple pouch-set yoghurt with just milk and cultures would be a better fit.
- Where can I buy Pauls Bluey Custard pouches?
- Pauls is a major dairy brand with wide distribution in Australian supermarkets. These Bluey Custard pouches are catalogued at both Coles and Woolworths, typically found in the chilled dairy or kids' snacks section. Availability can vary by individual store location, so it's always a good idea to check their online stores to see if it's in stock at your local before you head out.