Healthy Green Juice Gummies
Gummies are the perfect snack for kids and adults alike. However, most store-bought gummies contain refined sugars like glucose syrup, sugar, dextrose or artificial flavors and colors, which doesn’t make them the healthiest option. Even though they claim to be fruit-flavored, there’s very little – if any at all – actual fruit in them. Gummy candies are filled with unhealthy ingredients with a list on the label that looks like this – sugar, sugar, corn syrup, sugar, red 40, blue 1, and yellow 5.Homemade gummies can be made with real vegetables, protein-rich gelatin and no refined sugar! Great for picky eater children or adults that resist eating vegetables. Cooked, pureed greens, carrot, pumpkin, broccoli and so on are perfect for making gummies. You can even use greens powder or blend up chia, hemp, flax seeds too and incorporate into a gummy. As with the classic homemade fruit gummies, the sky is the limit when deciding what shape to make these vegetable gummies. You can use different fun shapes or gummy bear molds. If you don’t have any silicone molds, you simply pour the mixture into a pan and cut them into squares when they have firmed. Loaded with nutrients and so much better for you than store-bought. A great option for an easy and healthy all-natural snack with protein and no artificial junk in them! Easy to make and fun to eat! As well as the healthy vegetables there is also a health boost from gelatin. Gelatin makes up almost one-third of all the protein in our bodies and not having enough affects our joints, our skin and our gastro system.Gelatin is a colorless and tasteless protein made from hydrolyzed collagen, which means it is part of the broken-down collagen. It provides important amino acids which are the building blocks of protein.Gelatin also has at on health benefits – supporting digestive and gut health, maintaining strong bones, helping with joint pain, strengthening tendons, improving skin health, and can even help improve sleep.Gelatin when cooled, becomes a sticky adhesive like glue and gels together. Which is how we can make homemade gummies from it.Gelatin contains amino acids that helps to seal leaky gut, feeds the good bacteria in your intestinal tract and can improve sleep, reduce inflammation, reduce sugar cravings and can help with joint pain.The gelatinous quality is also great for our bodies because it helps build strong connective tissues and cartilage and gives parts of our bodies some elasticity. Its time to take control of the ingredients in your gummies and here is a basic recipe to get you started.
Ingredients
- 2 cups vegetable juice (suggestions of vegetables to use are kale, spinach, Swiss Chard, celery, spirulina and ginger root)
- 1-2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 7 tablespoons gelatin
Sour Sugar Coating
- 1/4 cup granulated stevia or sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered citric acid (optional for a sour touch)
Instructions
- Add one cup of juice to a small saucepan, and set aside an additional cup of juice. Stir the gelatin into the cup of juice (that is not in the saucepan) Mix well, and set aside for10 minutes for the gelatin to ‘bloom’. Heat the juice in the saucepan over low/medium heat until the juice starts to steam. Do not bring the juice to a boil. Take off the heat and add the gelatin and juice mixture to saucepan with the warm juice. Stir until the gelatin is dissolved and no lumps remain. Mix in the honey. Once all has dissolved, remove it from the heat and pour the mixture into silicon moulds, ice cube trays, or a small dish or pan. Place in the fridge to set for 2-3 hours.Pop the gummies out of the moulds, or cut into squares or cubes.Optional: Roll the gummies in the sour sugar until fully coated. Store uncovered at cool room temperature for up to 1 week, covered in the refrigerator (separate with layers of parchment) for up to 2 weeks, or in in the freezer (in a container between layers of parchment) for up to 3 months.
If you are looking for more delicious, healthy, no bake desserts and treats to help you reach your health, wellness and fitness goals, you will love my collection here:Bl ended Bites
