Healthy Gummy Supplements For Families

Between soccer practice drop-offs, work deadlines, and that mountain of laundry that never seems to disappear, I’ve been on a mission to find supplements my kids will actually take. Not just my 8-year-old who thinks anything green is “yucky,” but also my husband who conveniently “forgets” his vitamins unless they taste good.

Those store-bought gummy vitamins? Let’s be honest—they’re basically candy with a sprinkle of nutrients. After reading labels that made me cringe (corn syrup as the first ingredient? Really?), I fell down a research rabbit hole. What I discovered about natural gummy jellies completely changed our family’s supplement routine.

TLDR; my family loves these OLLY gummies, which balance health benefits with easy-to-consume chewy goodness.

Last Tuesday, while the kids were at school, I stumbled across this fascinating study by Teixeira-Lemos and colleagues (2021). They created two types of healthy gummies—one orange-honey flavor with only 73.8 calories per 100g and a berry version with just 39.8 calories per 100g. For perspective, the commercial gummies I’d been buying have nearly 360 calories for the same amount!

But it wasn’t just about calories. The berry gummies packed 83.7 ± 7.6 mg TE/100g of antioxidants. After Tommy caught that nasty cold last month that cycled through our entire household, anything that supports our immune system is golden in my book.

Other researchers have found similar results. Cittolin-Santos’ team (2024) created gummies using pistachio green hull extract and stevia that contained an impressive 680.31 ± 0.6 mg GAE/100g of antioxidants. When Jack (my husband) complained about afternoon energy crashes, I remembered reading that antioxidants help with fatigue.

One study that particularly caught my attention was by Nowak et al. (2024), who used apple and beetroot pomace flour in their gummies. This isn’t just clever recycling of food byproducts—they found the nutrients remained bioavailable even after digestion. Translation: your body actually absorbs the good stuff, unlike some supplements that just… pass through.

So what exactly makes these healthier than the bear-shaped ones my kids beg for in the grocery store? Here’s what I’ve learned:

The base ingredients are actual fruit juices—not artificial flavors trying to mimic fruit. Teixeira-Lemos’ team used real orange juice and berries. Some researchers, like Cittolin-Santos et al. (2024), incorporated pistachio extract, while Nowak’s group (2024) added fiber-rich apple and beetroot remnants.

For that gummy texture we all love, most recipes use gelatin, though I’ve found several vegan options that use pectin instead. This was important when my sister-in-law (who’s vegan) visited last month and wanted to try them.

Instead of corn syrup and sugar, these gummies use honey, stevia, or xylitol. Gunes and colleagues (2023) found these alternatives don’t just reduce calories—they avoid those sugar crashes that turn my kids into tiny tornadoes of energy followed by meltdowns. Been there, survived that!

My picky 5-year-old Sophia, who can spot a hidden vegetable from across the room, actually asks for these gummies. According to taste tests in the Teixeira-Lemos study (2021), the orange-honey gummies scored almost as high as commercial sugary ones. Even the pistachio gummies were hits with kid testers in Cittolin-Santos’ research (2024).

Jack has replaced his afternoon coffee with a couple of these, claiming they give him “cleaner energy.” While I can’t scientifically verify his personal experience, the research shows these gummies provide nutritional benefits without the sugar crash.

For me? I love that they’re:

• Low in calories (as little as 39.8 kcal/100g for the berry ones!)
• Packed with antioxidants (the pistachio version has 680.31 ± 0.6 mg GAE/100g)
• Made with ingredients I can pronounce
• Stable enough to toss in lunches or my purse (Nowak et al. (2024) confirmed they maintain quality in storage)

When I first introduced these to my kids, I called them “special treats” rather than supplements. I started with just one a day, usually after dinner as a “dessert.” Now they remind ME if I forget!

A few lessons I’ve learned the hard way:

• Follow the appropriate dosage for kids. My pediatrician recommended 1-2 for children under 12.
• Store them properly! I left a container in the car during a July soccer tournament, and, well… gummy puddle. Nowak’s team (2024) recommends refrigeration after opening.
• Look for certifications like organic or non-GMO. Santo’s research (2019) on propolis gummies emphasized this.

It’s not just me who’s excited about these. Teixeira-Lemos’ team (2021) concluded that natural gummies offer a “balanced nutritional profile suitable for all age groups.” Cittolin-Santos and colleagues (2024) note these can be produced on a commercial scale, which means we’ll likely see more options becoming available.

Nutritionists I’ve consulted appreciate that these gummies provide nutrients without excess sugar. My children’s pediatrician actually nodded in approval when I mentioned the specific brands we use—a first for any supplement I’ve brought up!

As researchers suggest studying how these gummies work in day-to-day diets, I’m already seeing positive changes in my family. The kids haven’t been sick since winter (knock on wood!), and Jack swears his afternoon slump has improved.

Scientists are now exploring adding prebiotics for gut health, which I’m watching closely since Sophia has had tummy troubles since she was a baby.

If you try these with your family, I’d love to hear your experience. As parents, our collective wisdom often leads to the best solutions—sometimes even inspiring researchers to explore new directions!

1. Teixeira-Lemos, E., et al. (2021). Development and Characterization of Healthy Gummy Jellies Containing Natural Fruits. Open Agriculture, 6, 466-478. https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/opag-2021-0029/html
2. Amjadi, S., et al. (2024). Current Innovations in the Development of Functional Gummy Candies. Foods, 13, 76. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10742688/
3. Cittolin-Santos, G. F., et al. (2024). Formulation of Functional Gummy Candies Containing Natural Antioxidants and Stevia. Food Chemistry, 440, 138187. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308814623025703
4. Nowak, N., et al. (2024). Enhancing Composition and Functionality of Jelly Candies Through Apple and Beetroot Pomace Flour Addition. npj Science of Food, 8, 67. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41538-024-00306-2
5. Santo, A., et al. (2019). Physicochemical Parameters and Antioxidant Activity of Gummy Jellies Prepared with Brazilian Green Propolis. Proceedings of the 7th Brazilian Conference on Natural Products. https://proceedings.science/bcnp-series/bcnp-2019/trabalhos/physicochemical-parameters-and-antioxidant-activity-of-gummy-jellies-prepared-wi
6. Gunes, R., et al. (2023). Sugar Reduction and Sweeteners in Confectionery: A Review. Trends in Food Science & Technology, 132, 67-78.
7. Charoen, R., et al. (2015). Antioxidant Activity of Psidium guajava Leaf Extract in Gummy Jellies. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 52, 4412-4419.