It’s after breakfast. I just opened a pack of gummy candies and ate five. Would you believe it if I told you I just had my daily recommendation for vitamins and minerals? It’s not what I had for breakfast. The gummy candies are SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins for Grownups.
SmartyPants is known for the gummy vitamins they make for kids. Now they’re available in grownup portions. The multivitamin includes Omega 3 and Vitamin D. Among the other vitamins are 100 percent daily-recommended values for vitamin C, vitamin D (150 percent), vitamin E, folic acid, vitamin B-12 (1667 percent), and iodine. Clocking in under 100 percent are daily sources of vitamin A, thiamin and zinc. The supplements also include Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA, though these are not rated for daily consumption despite studies that show their benefits.
Gummies are sold in bottles of 180 (30 day supply) for $21.95, and bottles of greater quantities are available. SmartyPants sent me an eight-day supply in individual packets of five. It certainly was a nice way to have a guiltless sweet in the morning. Typically I took the vitamins after my breakfast, though on a full or empty stomach, it didn’t upset my stomach like some supplements tend to do.
The gummies come in an assorted red and yellow mix. These are like the gummy candies coated with a fine sugar you find at the store. The taste is quite close. At closer inspection of the label I found that the daily serving of five gummies is 50 calories. That’s understandable, actually pretty unavoidable. What surprised me was that organic cane sugar is listed first under “other ingredients.” Though I will say that if you’re going to coat something with sugar, that boosts the volume of the ingredient in the list.
SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins for Grownups are a great way to get your daily multivitamin. It’s something you almost look forward to every morning, and are less likely to forget than a pill. The individual packets I received were easy to take with me. They travel easily to the office, gym, and other locations. Unfortunately the packets aren’t available [Update: SmartyPants let me know the individual packets will soon be available on their website], but I recommend finding an attractive, reusable container to portion them out. The warning says “Take only as directed. Do not exceed recommended dosage.” If you’re eating from the bottle, it’s not so hard to get carried away. It’s like eating candy.
These are ideal for several candidates. The chewable format is useful for anyone who has trouble swallowing pills. The sweet gummy is more memorable to take for someone who often forgets to take vitamins and supplements. The gentle formula goes down easily for people who find they get an upset stomach with certain multivitamins.
One drawback is that the SmartyPants Gummy Vitamins for Grownups are not vegetarian. They contain fish oil from anchovies and sardines. Those are the least favorite of any fish I’m willing to eat, and like to get my source of Omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients. They also contain gelatin, which also comes from animals. The supplement is free of yeast, wheat, milk, eggs, gluten, peanuts, shellfish, artificial colors, artificial flavors and salicylates.
If you’ve envied your kids for their gummy vitamins, even if you’ve found yourself considering going back to those Flintstones chewable vitamins and just taking a few more to meet your daily recommendations, this is the multivitamin for you.
Pros:
- -multivitamin in a sweet, chewable format
- -easy to eat and digest
- -Good source of vitamins and minerals
Cons:
- -not vegetarian
- -contains sugar