A Rainbow of Homemade Gummy Snacks That Are Healthy

It can be difficult to find protein snacks that do not contain added sugar. Especially during the summer, it is pleasant to consume fresh fruits and vegetables that are served chilled. Homemade Gummy Snacks are simple to create and provide a fantastic balance of sweetness and healthiness. Everyone like gummy bears, so you should have no trouble finding admirers for these delectable handmade treats.

Kids love gummy snacks, but they are not always the healthiest option. You can manufacture gummy snacks that are not only tasty but also nutritious!

Gummy bears are a famous traditional snack, however, they contain unhealthy sugar and artificial colors. Consider using natural ingredients such as fruit juice and gelatin to make your gummy bears.

Use natural colors such as red and green during the holidays or pink and blue for Valentine’s Day to make your gummies stand out. Natural food coloring derived from plants such as beets and carrots can also be used to achieve a range of hues without the use of chemical dyes.

The majority of us busy parents are always looking for new ways to provide our developing children with more nutrients. We love using our juicer and drinking fresh fruit and vegetable juice around here, but it’s not exactly portable.

Fruit and vegetable candies are our most recent approach for obtaining healthy nutrients in small, portable dosages.

Not only are fruits and vegetables packed with vitamins, minerals, and essential nutrients, but these candies also include gelatin. Gelatin is a source of dietary collagen and protein; it has anti-inflammatory properties, is known to assist digestion, and promotes good skin/hair/nails, among other health benefits.

These candies can be consumed as vitamins, snacks, treats, or desserts, depending on what you and your children want. Examine various juice mixes to determine which you prefer.

You can be confident that your children are receiving adequate nutrition when they choose these!

Gummy Fruit and Vegetable Juice Snacks

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups fruit and vegetable juice, freshly squeezed or commercially prepared (see below for juice combinations)
• 4 tablespoons of unflavored gelatin 
• 2-4 teaspoons of raw honey, depending on your taste and the sweetness of the juice. If your juice has a lot of vegetables, add a bit more honey.
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or another extract of choice; optionally, up to 1 tablespoon of additional health-promoting substances such as Vitamin C powder, Magnesium powder, powdered probiotics, green powder, protein powder, etc.

Directions

• The juice is poured into a small saucepan. Allow the gelatin to bloom for a few minutes before sprinkling it on top (it will get wrinkly looking on the surface and all of the white powder from the gelatin will absorb into the liquid). Whisk until the gelatin is completely absorbed.
• Place the saucepan on the stove over medium heat. Allow the liquid to warm, but never bring it to a boil. You want the liquid to change from being thick and batter-like to thin and runny. You want all of the gelatin to dissolve (you can test this by putting your finger in the liquid and rubbing it between your thumb and index finger; if it’s smooth, you’re done; if it’s gritty, keep it on the heat).
• Next, mix in the honey, extract, and optionally other ingredients. (*Note- if using a powdered probiotic, wait until the juice has cooled to room temperature before adding so as not to harm any of the beneficial bacteria.)
• Refrigerate the mixture in candy molds or a loaf pan for two to three hours, or until set.
• Eliminate molds. Cut the gelatin into small squares if you use a loaf pan.
• Refrigerate in an airtight jar for two to three weeks.
• Fruit and Vegetable Juice Combinations (used for the gummies pictured)
• Red/Pink: Beets, strawberries, carrots, and a touch of lemon juice.
• Orange: Carrots, oranges, ginger, and a small amount of mango juice
• Yellow: Yellow bell pepper, yellow beets, yellow pear, yellow apple, and a touch of lemon juice (DO NOT use pineapple juice; the pineapple enzyme bromelain will prevent the gelatin from setting).
• Green: Kale, kiwi, cucumber, green apple, and lime (green grapes would work well, too)
• Purple consists of purple cabbage, blackberries, blueberries, a touch of red beet, and an apple (concord grapes would work well, too)
• If you want to lighten the color of the gummies, you can also replace some of the juice in the recipe.