When you think of gummies, what comes to mind? For many (myself included), gummies remind us of those sugary snacks we had packed in our lunch boxes growing up. And while I loved gummies and still do, it’s been a long time since I’ve snacked on store-bought gummies, and I don’t feed them to our kids. Find out why most store-bought gummies aren’t as healthy as they seem, and my favorite super easy homemade immunity gummies recipe you’ll feel great about feeding to your kids.
Why Store-Bought Gummies Aren’t Always The Healthiest Choice
Here’s the thing — most gummies, including seemingly healthier brands like Annie’s and Welch’s, are chock-full of refined sugar, artificial ingredients, and artificial coloring. The concern? Research has found that artificial food coloring has been linked to adverse neurobehavioral outcomes, such as hyperactivity in some children.
And it doesn’t stop there. Those natural flavors you see on store-bought ingredient lists may seem better than their artificial counterparts, but they aren’t always healthy. Plus, we don’t always know what they actually are. Shocking fact — there are over 2,500 chemically defined flavor substances used in the US and Europe, and the term “natural flavors” can be used for anything that’s used for flavor. There’s also no regulation or oversight other than how these natural flavors are first derived.
It’s also important to note that many store-bought gummies contain seed oils and more processed sugar than any kid (or adult) should eat in one day. They have ZERO nutrient density. Even most of the “fruit” gummies out there have no real fruit (just natural flavors). Most store-bought gummies are about as far from real, whole foods as can be.
Making Homemade Immune Boosting Gummies is Easy
The good news is that we don’t have to deprive our children of these childhood favorite treats! By making our own versions at home, we control what goes into our kid’s gummies. We can use the highest-quality, nutrient-dense ingredients to create a treat that we love feeding to our kids.
We’ve created a healthy gelatin gummy recipe that comes with immune-supporting benefits. It’s a perfect lunch box treat that’s jam-packed with nutrient-rich ingredients. The best part? This immunity gummies recipe is SO easy. Once you make these immunity gummies at home, you’ll never buy gummies from the store again!
Why Gelatin Gummies are Nutrient Dense
What is gelatin, and what makes it super nutritious and healthy? Gelatin is a protein that comes from animal collagen. Collagen is a protein found in animal bones, tendons, ligaments, skin, and cartilage and is the most abundant protein found in mammals. By using a high-quality grass-fed gelatin, we create gummies that are rich in important amino acids that help support the health of our gut, skin, joints, nails, and hair.
But not all gelatin is created equal. Quality is key here, so stick to a nutrient-dense grass-fed gelatin for your immunity boosting gummies. Our favorite is the Perfect Supplements Bovine Gelatin, and you can use code MSHF10 to get 10% off. We also like the Thrive Market grass-fed beef gelatin as well. Here are some other benefits of gelatin.
Homemade Gelatin Gummies Help Support The Gut
Gelatin has been shown to support digestive strength and help support the integrity of the gut, which is key when dealing with leaky gut syndrome. Gelatin may also help promote healthy bowel movements, an essential part of supporting optimal digestive health.
Homemade Gelatin Gummies Are Nutrient Dense
Adding these immunity boosting gummies to your kiddo’s diet is an easy and delicious way to pack in a ton of important nutrients. These homemade immunity gummies offer the gut-supporting benefits of gelatin, as well as other good-for-you ingredients that pack in fiber, protein, vitamins A, C, and calcium. Talk about a bang for your buck snack your kids will love!
Homemade Gelatin Gummies May Help Support Sleep
Quality sleep is a foundation of good health, and active kids need a lot of it! Amazingly, certain foods, like gelatin, have been shown to help support sleep. Gelatin is rich in glycine, a nonessential amino acid that research suggests may play a role in sleep quality. So, skip the sugary after-dinner treats and try offering an immunity boosting gelatin gummy instead (and don’t forget to enjoy one yourself) — us parents need quality sleep too, right?
Immunity Gummies Recipe
Haley ScheichEquipment
- 1 9" x 13" Glass baking dish or small molds. (You can use a larger or baking dish too. It'll just change the thickness of your gummies, but you really can't go wrong!)
- 1 Frying Pan (We prefer stainless steel)
- 1 Balloon Whisk (We prefer silicone)
Ingredients
- Organic raw coconut oil to grease your baking dish
- 2 cups 100% organic orange juice Look for an organic orange juice with just one ingredient
- 1 cup Organic coconut milk
- 1/3 cup 100% Grass-fed beef Gelatin We like the Perfect Supplement Brand.
- 2 TBSP Acerola Organic Cherry Powder We like the Perfect Supplement Brand. If you can't find this easily, you can skip it.
Instructions
Homemade Immunity Gummies Recipe
- Start by greasing your baking dish with the organic raw coconut oil. This will make it easier to remove your gummies from the pan.
- Add 2 cups of 100% organic orange juice and one cup of coconut milk to the pan without turning on the heat.
- Add 1/3 cup of the gelatin to the orange juice and coconut milk mixture. Add it slowly, spreading it evenly across the surface.
- Allow the gelatin to sit for a couple of minutes to bloom.
- Next, add the 1.5 TBSP of organic cherry powder for an extra boost of vitamin C.
- Heat and whisk the mixture in the pan at a very low temperature. The goal here is to help the gelatin dissolve. When the gelatin dissolves completely, turn off the heat.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish and store in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
- Your super delicious, super nutritious gummies are ready! Slice them into small squares and serve as a nutrient-dense snack.
Notes
Our Shopping List & Favorite Brands
- Organic raw coconut oil
- Nutiva Organic Raw Coconut Oil on Amazon
- Thrive Market Organic Raw Coconut Oil (Use this link for 40% off at Thrive Market)
- 100% organic orange juice
- Organic coconut milk
- Our favorite brand is Native Forest with No Guar on Amazon
- Usually cheaper at Thrive Market
- Grass-fed beef gelatin
- Use code MSHF10 to get 10% off the Perfect Supplements Brand
- Buy Perfect Supplement Grass-Fed Gelatin on Amazon
- Thrive Market Grass-Fed Beef Gelatin (Use this link for 40% off at Thrive Market)
- Acerola Organic Cherry powder by Perfect Supplement brand
- Use code MSHF10 to get 10% off the Perfect Supplements Brand
- Raw Organic Honey
- LOCAL raw honey from your Farmer’s Market
- Organic Maple Syrup
- We like Thrive Market and Coombs Family Farms
- Our favorite 8″ x 8″ Glass baking dish
- Our favorite 9″ x 13″ Glass Baking Dish
- High Quality Stainless Steel Frying Pan by Viking
- Our Favorite Easy to Store Stainless Steel Measuring Cups
- Silicone Balloon Whisk
Gummy Snacks Turned Super Healthy
So there you have it — a childhood favorite snack turned into an incredibly nutrient-dense treat. This gelatin gummy recipe ensures a healthy balance of vitamins and minerals while reducing the intake of unhealthy sugars and artificial ingredients. The gelatin and cherry powder products from the Perfect Supplement Brand are all natural and made from grass-fed bovine. So, what are you waiting for?
I’m looking forward to your feedback on how good your homemade immunity gummies taste!!!