Tired of the battle that ensues when you tell your kids to take their vitamins? Or maybe you’re not a fan of swallowing supplements yourself. Either way, I have two magical words for you: gummy vitamins.
But if you want to forgo the high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors and petroleum-based dyes often found in conventional gummy vitamins, why not try your hand at a DIY version? When you make your own gummy vitamins, you’ll know exactly what’s in them!
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup fresh-squeezed juice (anything but pineapple), or naturally flavored/colored juice with no sugar added
- 2 Tbsp organic rice syrup or honey (NOTE: do not feed raw honey to children under 1)
- 8 tsp powdered gelatin or agar-agar powder (for vegan gummies)
- Children’s liquid supplement of choice — for example: vitamin C, minerals, herbs, probiotics, fish oil, etc. – choose naturally flavored/colored supplements (base the amount on the number of servings your mold/tray will yield)
Directions:
- In a small saucepan, mix together juice, rice syrup (or honey) and gelatin powder.
- Heat on low and whisk until gelatin dissolves.
- Remove from heat and let cool before whisking in liquid supplement.
- Carefully pour into fun-shaped silicone molds or silicone ice cube trays.
- Place in freezer for 10 – 15 minutes or until set.
- Remove from molds; store in an airtight glass container.
Your kids will never suspect that you’re sneaking a little nutrition into these homemade treats – just be sure to keep them out of reach of little hands!
Not a fan of DIY? Vitacost.com carries plenty of naturally flavored, fun-shaped gummy vitamins for both kids and adults — without the questionable ingredients often found in conventional varieties.