Easy Vegan Sport Gummies: Clean Fuel Energy Boost
Super easy to make and to customize to your individual tastes and needs, these clean, vegan sport gummies offer gentle, tasty, energizing fuel to naturally support your workouts!
Prices are up, and the heat is ON. We’re making the most of summer, but between high costs, sweltering temps, and stretches of poor air quality due to wildfires, we’ve erring on the cautious side when it comes to making plans. That includes signing up for races and other athletic events. I’ve been getting behind the concept of a Make Your Own “event” series, mostly focused on building stregnth and speed for distances ranging from a half marathon and to a solo but serene 50K. I know I won’t be pushing myself the way I would in a paid, populated event, but it’s nice to have the sturdy structure of goals with relaxed flexibility. So far, I think I can honestly say I’m more pumped and motivated for these quietly private run challenges than I’ve usually been for traditional races. At the very least, I don’t have the buildup of dread and nerves.
In keeping with the DIY theme, I’ve been having a blast in the kitchen making homemade sport gummies—truly! Making gummies is fun! Not in a theme park, party, picnic, or even cookie-baking way, but there is glee to be found in experimenting with flavor combinations and molds. If I’d realized just how easy it is to make them, I’d have started a long time ago.
Benefits of Homemade, Plant-Based Sport Gummies
Rather than relying on slaughterhouse byproduct gelatin for structure, plant-based gummies harness the gelling properties of agents like pectin and agar agar. These gummies make use of both. On its own, agar agar tends to yield a more brittle, breakable product, but blended with pectin you get just the right level of firmness. Not only are these two cruelty-free, but you get to enjoy reduced allergen risks and prebiotic digestive benefits. The big allure, of course, of making our own is the freedom to mix, match, and choose while avoiding the likes of artificial dyes, additives, and high fructose corn syrup. Planet-friendly bonus, you save on packaging, too. You can tailor to your needs, determining the exact sweetness, tanginess, and saltiness of your fuel.
Tart Cherry Beet and Apple Matcha Flavors
Both of these gummies take advantage of the delicate sweetness and hydrating electrolytes of potassium-rich coconut water as well as a pinch of sea salt to help replace sodium lost in sweat, reducing risk of muscle cramping. They both use the agar agar-pectin combo for a firm jelly kind of texture. Maple syrup as my choice sweetner provides quick-burning fuel that is easier on digestion than highly processed sugars thanks to trace nutrients.
I love the tangy tart cherry flavor. In addition to sporting a vibrant color, antioxidant-rich tart cherry juice is associated with reducing muscle damage and soreness as well as a host of other benefits. Beetroot powder delivers dietary nitrates known for helping to boost stamina and vitality. In contrast, the modest amount of matcha powder in the green apple flavor lends a gentle, steady caffeine boost. I’ve had luck whisking all my ingredients for both varieties over the stovetop, but it definitely won’t hurt if you want to incorporate the matcha powder in a little of the coconut water or juice first, as you would making a matcha latte.
I’m not a nutritionist or a food scientist, and I would never tell you that these gummies are enough for your long, intense workouts on their own. Nor would I recommend them for any old casual run or for snacking. That said, I’m my own happy guinea pig here, and they’ve already been helpful assets in long runs and before intervals. They’re smooth, not too sweet, and all-around feel good. As for the tempation to snack on them—that’s not going to happen. They’re good, but they’re not that good. Think of them as sport gummy good, and you should be fine. If not, change things up your way!
While I always consider a healthy dose of kitchen science to be a treat, I think the delight I’ve been deriving from something so simple as making homemade vegan sport chews mostly comes down to this “Make Your Own” mindset. We’re navigating heavy times, and it’s all too easy to feel weighed down and disconsolate. This Make Your Own Summer focus has brought new clarity to the words, life is (mostly) what you make it. We may feel powerless, but we can almost alway find room to choose our own adventure. A wise teacher mentor who sadly passed away too young used to say frequently, “Life is not a dress rehearsal”. With each passing year, I better understand why that phrase meant so much to her. Our one “wild and precious” life—not every moment will feel good, but we can make it mean something. We can make it work toward something better. At the very least, we can make it our own. xo
Easy Vegan Tart Cherry Beet Sport Gummies
Super easy to make and to customize to your individual tastes and needs, these clean, vegan sport gummies offer gentle, tasty, energizing fuel to naturally support your workouts!
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup tart cherry juice
- 1/2 Cup coconut water
- 2-3 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon agar agar
- 1 Tablespoon fruit pectin
- ½ T beetroot powder
- Squeeze lime juice
- ¼ Teaspoon sea salt
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer 3-4 minutes until the agar agar fully dissolves.
- Pour the liquid into silicone molds or a glass baking dish lightly coated with spray.
- Refrigerate until firm (about 1 hour). If desired, let them air dry on parchment before storing in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Notes
Before heading out for a workout, you can consider lightly dusting in arrowroot powder or cornstarch to keep them from sticking.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
28Fat
0 gSat. Fat
0 gCarbs
7 gFiber
0 gNet carbs
7 gSugar
5 gProtein
0 gSodium
76 mgCholesterol
0 mgGreen Apple Matcha Vegan Sport Gummies
Super easy to make and to customize to your individual tastes and needs, these clean, vegan sport gummies offer gentle, tasty, energizing fuel to naturally support your workouts!
Ingredients
- 1/2 Cup apple juice
- 1/2 Cup coconut water
- 2-3 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 Teaspoon matcha powder
- 1 Teaspoon agar agar
- 1 Tablespoon pectin
- 1/2 Teaspoon sea salt
- Squeeze lemon juice
Instructions
- Whisk all ingredients together. Bring to a gentle boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer 3-4 minutes until the agar agar fully dissolves.
- Pour the liquid into silicone molds or a glass baking dish lightly coated with spray.
- Refrigerate until firm (about 1 hour). If desired, let them air dry on parchment before storing in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
Notes
Before heading out for a workout, you can consider lightly dusting in arrowroot powder or cornstarch to keep them from sticking.
Nutrition Facts
Calories
28Fat
0 gSat. Fat
0 gCarbs
7 gFiber
0 gNet carbs
6 gSugar
5 gProtein
0 gSodium
133 mgCholesterol
0 mg