Many of us remember chewing those character vitamins when we were younger. They tasted horrible, and they weren’t made with high-quality ingredients. Not to mention the various artificial colors and flavors that are used in their formula. Luckily, there are much better options available for kids these days.
If you feel like your child needs a little extra help to address picky eating, a poor immune response or nutritional deficiencies, read on to find out more about Hiya Kids Vitamins and Juice Plus. Hiya's a top-rated multivitamin for 2 year olds and up, while Juice Plus has been gaining popularity. I’ll tell you all about both options, including which one my kids liked more.
As always, be sure to talk to your pediatrician before your kids take a multivitamin. My #1 tip is to show the doctor the nutrition facts and the brand's website, then they will take it from there!
Key Decision-Making Factors Before Buying Juice Plus or Hiya Kids Vitamins
Hiya | Juice Plus |
|---|---|
Hiya Kids Vitamins include essential vitamins and minerals, as well as a fruit and vegetable blend. | Juice Plus vitamins are gummy-based soft chews. |
Each of your children gets their own bottle of Hiya vitamins, which they can customize with stickers. | There are 30 different fruits, vegetables and berries in each serving of Juice Plus chews. |
Hiya Kids Vitamins are completely sugar-free. | This product is for both adults and children. Just be careful when dosing. |
Overview of Hiya Kids Vitamins
Hiya Kids Vitamins are created with 15 different essential vitamins and minerals, along with a fruit and vegetable blend. Some of the essentials included are vitamins A, C, D, E, folate and B12, along with zinc. This product is designed to fill in nutritional gaps while also building a strong immune response and supporting healthy growth and development.
The taste and texture of this product are very pleasant compared to other chewable vitamins on the market. Our five- and almost eight-year-old both love taking their dose first thing in the morning. This isn’t a gummy-based vitamin, so you don’t have to worry about your kids getting cavities from Hiya Vitamins.
Important Facts
- Hiya is a sugar-free supplement.
- There are 15 essential vitamins and minerals in each dose of Hiya.
- You receive a discount for each additional child that you purchase a product for.
- A refillable bottle cuts back on plastic waste.
- Stickers are included, so your child can decorate their bottle however they want.
My Kids’ Experience With Hiya
The thing that I love most about Hiya Kids Vitamins is that kids are involved in the process of taking them. We’re not simply handing over a vitamin each day and expecting them to take it. Each of our kids has their own Hiya bottle that they’ve decorated. They know to bring us the bottle first thing in the morning so we can make sure they get their vitamin. Our kids think they taste great, and we’ve never had a problem getting them to take their daily dose.
Hiya has produced more results than any other vitamin brand that we’ve used for our kids. We have noticed a shift in their energy levels, especially on long days of school and activities. They’re not falling asleep in the car or on the couch early in the evening. Also, we’ve experienced a lot fewer illnesses in the home. For once, my kids are actually able to fight off the germs they’re encountering at school.
What We Like
- There’s no sugar in this product.
- All of the essentials that kids need to grow and thrive are included.
- Our kids like the flavor of Hiya Kids Vitamins.
- This is a very affordable product.
What We Don’t Like
- While it’s nice that each child gets their own bottle, you have to store them both and make sure you use the right bottle for the right child.
- Only a 30-day supply is available at a time.
Overview of Juice Plus
Juice Plus chews are not just for kids; they’re also suitable for adults. There are three different products available. One is comprised of fruits; another is vegetables; and the last is berries. When combined, these chews provide you with essential vitamins, antioxidants and plant-based compounds. All of nature’s best is in this product, including broccoli, kale, purple grapes, berries, apples, oranges, blueberries and elderberries.
Important Facts
- This is a great supplement option if your kids don’t like the consistency of chewable tablets.
- This product is gluten-free and non-GMO.
- Juice Plus products have been certified for quality and safety by the NSF.
- There are other products available from Juice Plus, such as shakes and bars.
My Kids’ Experience With Juice Plus
The thing that I liked most about Juice Plus is that we could have a product in our household that everyone could use. We didn’t have to worry about different items all over the place. Plus, these chews are based on whole foods. The only thing I was concerned about going into this experience is that we were all going to have to consume a lot of chews to meet the daily dose requirements. Adults consume four of each chew variety, while kids get two.
We all liked the flavor of these chews. They were a little sweet, in my opinion, but the taste was pleasant. Our kids had to chew them for a bit before they could swallow them. It’s a little bit of an expensive product, priced at $82.50 per month. The adults in the household eventually grew tired of the product quantity, so we switched the kids over to Hiya.
What We Like
- It’s nice to have one product that everyone in the household can use.
- The taste of these chews is very pleasant.
- You have access to more than 30 different fruits, vegetables and berries when you use this product.
- Juice Plus is certified non-GMO.
What We Don’t Like
- Your kids (and you) could potentially be consuming a lot of these chews each day. If you opt for the trio, a children’s dose is two of each chew variety.
- There are a couple of grams of sugar in each dose of Juice Plus, but this comes from the ingredients, not added refined sugar.
Comparing Juice Plus's vs. Hiya Kids Vitamins
Taste and Texture
Hiya Taste Rating
My Daughter’s Rating: 4.7/5
My daughter really liked the flavor and texture of Hiya Kids Vitamins. She had no problem taking them when we first tried them, and she’s still good about taking her daily dose.
My Son’s Rating: 4.5/5
My son has days where he grumbles a bit in regard to taking his vitamin, but he does comment that he likes the fruity flavor.
Juice Plus's Taste Rating
My Daughter’s Rating: 4.5
My daughter says these taste like candy. I agree to a certain extent, which is something I didn’t love about Juice Plus.
My Son’s Rating: 4.6
My son loves anything that’s sweet and fruity, so he really likes Juice Plus chews. He did complain that they are a little chewy, and it can take him some time to get his chews down.
Formulas
Hiya Formula Rating: 4.6
Hiya is designed with kids in mind, so everything that’s included in this formula supports their development.
Juice Plus's Formula Rating: 4.7
There are a lot more nutrients included in a dose of Juice Plus, but I felt it was a little overboard for the kids. Our kids are good eaters for the most part, so we just needed something basic.
Results
Hiya Results Rating: 4.9
We love the results that Hiya provided. Our kids experienced more energy (but weren’t up at night) and seemed healthier overall. Less germs make mom and dad happy!
Juice Plus's Results Rating: 4.3
Our kids did seem to have more energy when they were taking this product, but there’s also quite a bit of sugar involved in taking Juice Plus. This is especially true if you’re using all three products. They may have simply been experiencing a “sugar high”. Otherwise, we didn’t see too much of a change in their growth or immune response.
Pricing and Value
Hiya Value Rating: 5/5
Not only is Hiya really affordable, but I love that there’s a discount available when you’re purchasing for multiple children.
Juice Plus's Value Rating: 4/5
Juice Plus is expensive, especially if everyone in your household is going to be using this product. You do get access to a lot of great ingredients, but we just didn’t need something like this in our home.
Which Toddler Vitamins Did My Kiddos Like Better: Juice Plus+ or Hiya?
Hiya is the clear winner when it comes to the opinion of my kids. They like the taste and texture; they don’t complain about taking it daily and they feel great. When we have happy and healthy kids, mom and dad are happy too.
My Recommendation
I recommend starting out with Hiya to see how it works for your children. It’s a pretty basic multivitamin supplement that contains all of the essentials that kids need to thrive. If you really feel like you have some picky eaters on your hands, you may want to switch over to Juice Plus for more nutrients.
