I get a lot of questions about how I keep my children take vitamins. While mine just takes his fish oil, probiotics, and magnesium with no problem…this got me thinking.
I combined one of their favorite natural snacks (homemade gummy bears) with vitamins. The result are these healthy, gut-boosting, kid-friendly multivitamin gummies.
Why we need vitamins
Decades ago, simply eating a balanced diet, low in processed foods and added sugar, was enough to get the nutrients we needed. Now things are a little more complicated. Unless you grow everything you eat in very nutrient-rich soil (or buy from someone who does), the food simply no longer contains the essential nutrients it once did.
In fact, fruits and vegetables have less than 50% essential vitamins and minerals they were accustomed to. Even then, some nutrients are no longer present in the American food supply. We need these nutrients to help our immune system, to protect against heart disease, and for our overall well-being.
As a mom, I am more focused in my approach to nutrition with my children. We get vitamin D from the sun and vitamin A from fish oil. My kids also love taking healthy, non-GMO, gluten-free vitamin supplements (no added sugar!) like this one. Adding an extra boost of nutrients with homemade gummy vitamins is a fun way to incorporate more nutrition into their day!
Intestinal soothing gelatin
These rely on gelatin for their texture. Not only is it a good source of collagen, but it also contributes to healthier hair, skin, and nails. Gelatin is also a major asset for our intestinal health. As Hippocrates is said to have said many years ago, “All diseases begin in the gut.” Science continues to confirm the importance of our gut health to overall health!
A healthy gut has health benefits including immune support and better mental health.
A word of caution: if your kids don't do this regularly drink bone broth (they should be!), then start slowly and only give them a few at a time. Their intestines may need time to adjust or they might have loose stools. Gelatin has a soothing effect on the digestive system.
Customize your gummy vitamins
You can add different vitamins and nutrients here according to your preferences. Keep in mind that these will not contain a full range of nutrients like pre-made dietary supplements or prenatal vitamins. Some oil-based vitamins, like vitamin E and fish oil, also don't mix very well.
Making your own chewable vitamins means you can avoid the sugar alcohols, additives, and corn syrup sweeteners found in many gummy supplements.
I can think of endless uses for these, but these are the ones I've tried so far. You can create different fruit flavors by changing the juice.
- Add vitamin C powder and using lemon juice to make vitamin C sour candies for immune health.
- Add probiotics with a base of fresh juice to make Compatible with gaps gummy vitamins
- Using homemade elderberry syrup as a basis for making anti-flu chewable vitamins
- Add Natural Calm for chewable magnesium vitamins
- Just make regular flavors and put them in cute mussels to prepare gummy snacks. They are nut-free and sometimes approved for school activities.
You can also try adding some calcium powder (along with magnesium and vitamin D). Vitamin AB complex containing vitamin B6, vitamin B12, biotin, and folate (not folic acid) is also a good option.
I use probiotics from Just Thrive because it has been proven that they reach the intestine (unlike many others). Generally, if your probiotics need to be refrigerated and cannot handle heat, they will not be able to get past stomach acid. They even have a kids probiotic gummy that my kids love!
Choose your juice
Most store-bought juices contain a shocking amount of grams of added sugar. These are often flavored sugar water concoctions. Freshly squeezed is the best option, but if you need a store-bought option, look for something that is just organic juice. No added sugars, flavors or colors.
Pineapple juice doesn't work because it contains bromelain, a digestive enzyme that breaks down proteins. Great for digestion, but not so great when trying to make gelatin gel. I found this gave them a weird slimy texture and didn't work. Papaya has the same problem here.
Our favorite fresh juice combinations are mango/orange, lemon/lime (sour), or elderberry syrup as a base. They're packed with antioxidants and vitamin C and taste delicious!
If you are short on time or unable to prepare chewable vitamins, Hi would be my next choice. They contain clean ingredients and a wide variety of products that children need.
How to Make Gummy Vitamins
Homemade chewable gummy vitamins are a great way to give kids extra protein and make their vitamins delicious and easy to take!
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Combine the juice, vitamins or probiotics, and honey in a small saucepan.
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Sprinkle the gelatin on top and let it bloom for about 1 minute.
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Heat lightly over low heat until the gelatin is completely dissolved, about 2 minutes. It will be thick and a little syrupy.
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Quickly pour the mixture into molds or a small glass dish lightly oiled with coconut oil.
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Place the molds in the refrigerator for several hours or until firm. The exact time depends on the size of your molds.
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Remove and unmold. Cut into squares if necessary.
Nutritional intake
How to Make Gummy Vitamins
Amount per serving (1 gummy)
Calories 19
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.02g0%
Saturated fat 0.004g0%
Polyunsaturated fat 0.01g
Monounsaturated fat 0.002g
Sodium 5mg0%
Potassium 17mg0%
Carbohydrates 3g1%
Fibers 0.04g0%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 0.2 IU0%
Vitamin C 0.1 mg0%
Calcium 2mg0%
Iron 0.05 mg0%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Nutrition data does not include added supplements.
Determine the dose
Since they are more like food, I don't worry too much about the exact dosage. If you want to know how much your children earn, here's an easy way to find out. Take the mg or mcg of vitamin you used and divide it by the number of servings.
For example, let's say you added 400% vitamin C DV. If you used fun gummy molds and ended up with 20 vitamin gummies, divide 400 by 20. This ends up being 20% vitamin C DV per gummy. An even easier way is to prepare them in a square glass dish and cut the gummies into squares. You can do this calculation for each added vitamin.
Have you ever made your own vitamins or supplements? What combinations would you add? Let me know below!
