GEM Nutrition Bites Review
Are Nutrient-Dense Bites Better Than Gummies?
GEM is a new way for women to get our daily vitamins in a compact bite form instead of a pill or gummy. They use 13 whole food ingredients and 15 essential nutrients to create each bite in three flavors.
GEM piqued my interest because it immediately looked more natural due to its protein-bite-like appearance and dark green color. I take a decent amount of supplement pills each day and sometimes swallowing them all is a bit of a chore. GEM vitamins come in small square bites that I chew to get my daily dose of essential vitamins. They're also formulated for women in mind which I always like to see.
About this Vitamin Subscription
The Subscription: GEM
The Cost: $39.00 for a 30-day supply.
ACTIVE DEAL: Save 30% on the real food multivitamin you EAT, not take
CODE: MSA30
What You Get: 30 vitamin bites in a refillable tin.
Ships to: The US only.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review purposes. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Pros & Cons
| The Pros |
|
| The Cons |
|
| Is It Worth It? |
|
| I'd Recommend GEM If: |
|
Why did I try GEM?
There are so many vitamins and supplements out on the market today. Some are gummies, some come in packets, but GEM sets itself apart on not only what it's made of, but what it looks like. While working full time and being in school at night, my free time has vanished and my health has taken a toll with less sleep and less time to eat well. These little bites made me curious to try them since they look like tiny protein bars and deliver a lot of healthy ingredients in one go. I like that they have a more holistic approach but with FDA-approved ingredients and care about sustainability and ethical means of production.
What is GEM made of?
GEM is a square nutrient-dense bite roughly 3/4 of an inch cubed made with real food ingredients. They are formulated with common deficiencies, ailments, and lifestyle factors for women in mind.
First, you have the body of the bite. They're made using whole plant ingredients like dates, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, coconut, chia seeds, and spirulina: stuff I'd normally see in a protein bar that I'm choosing as a snack. There's also chickpeas, mushrooms, red algae, curry leaves, ashwagandha herb, sea minerals, and chlorella. Everything is ethically and sustainably sourced from around the world and then manufactured in the USA.
Next are the 5 vitamins 10 dietary supplements that GEM has identified as "essentials" for women. Things like omega 3s to help brain function, iron for energy, biotin (B7) for hair skin and nails, and vitamin D for mood, immune support, and sleep support. The bites are also made without synthetic and artificial fillers, binders, additives, and colorants. A full list of ingredients with all of the benefits can be found here on their website along with references.
Getting Started
Ordering GEM is simple. All you need to do is go to their website, choose a flavor, and decide if you'd like the full size (30 bites) or sample size (5 bites). They even offer a trial trio pack that has five of each of the three flavors (cacao, lemon, and peppermint).
Your first order will also trigger a $39.00 monthly subscription (even if you order the trial trio pack), so be aware that you will receive auto-shipments every month until you cancel or skip by signing into your account to make changes.
Gem Packaging
1 of 3
My canister of 30 bites arrived in a small box made of recycled materials and nothing more. I was happy to see no booklet or extra coupons to clutter things up. Since all of the info I need is available online, I appreciate this paper-free approach.
1 of 5
Since I'm at work more days than I'm at home, I keep my refillable canister of bites on my desk at work. It looks pretty and reminds me that I need to take my daily bite with my morning coffee. Inside the soft pink dome lid, there is another flat lid that reads "BITE ME" with a gold metal pull to open. The bites stay super fresh in here and look great wherever I choose to store them. It also has all the ingredients and nutritional information clearly typed out on the outside.
How do GEM Bites taste?
1 of 3
Cacao Flavor
I ordered GEM before the trial trio was available, so you'll see that I got a full-size canister of cacao and a sample pack of each of the other two flavors. I had a feeling that the cacao would be my best bet flavor-wise and it turns out that I was right. Although these do have an earthy green flavor to them, the cacao gives it some tasty richness. There's not too much sweetness to this besides the dates inside (which I like) and it tastes a lot like a raw protein bar. There is a slight aftertaste most likely from some of the greens, but it dissipates with some breakfast or extra coffee. The bite is nutty, chewy, and goes down easy after just a few chomps.
1 of 2
Lemon Flavor
Next up is the lemon flavor. I know, it sounds a little strange for this type of product but I love lemon! Normally I find citrus quite refreshing, but here it doesn't really transfer. The aftertaste of this flavor lingers on my tongue a bit longer than I'd like and it takes a more to wash it away.
1 of 2
Peppermint Flavor
The peppermint flavor is probably my second favorite of the three. I'm known to get a pump of peppermint syrup added to my lattes in the winter, and this gives a little nod to that. It's not overly done and although it still has the same slight aftertaste, it's not as pronounced as the lemon. If you like peppermint in things like chocolate, then this might be a good flavor for you!
Refills
Image from dailygem.co
Since the tin canister is refillable, all future monthly shipments are delivered in 100-percent compostable/recyclable resealable pouches (similar to the trial packs you see above).
More products offered by GEM
1 of 4
I ended up getting one of the GEM travel tins as well ($5.00) since I sleep over at my boyfriend's house a couple of times a week and like to travel. The tin allows the perfect space for me to add eight full bites to keep in my bag so I don't forget them on the go. It's made of the same metal as the canister with matching white and pink colors.
In addition to the bites, GEM offers a few other lifestyle products like a tote bag, and a sweatshirt.
Value Comparison
GEM nutrient bites cost $1.30/day which can be a bit pricier than traditional multi-vitamins but it's always hard to do a complete comparison with a multi since the ingredients can vary. Compared to supplements like Ritual (2 pills/day) which costs $1.00/day, Persona which is a pack of pills and can cost $1.56/day (like when I reviewed it here), or gummies from SugarBearHair (2 bears/day) at $1.00/day, GEM seems to be hovering in the same general space.
We've put together a handy vitamin comparison guide with some of the leading supplement subscription brands on the market today if you're curious about some others.
So, what’s the verdict?
GEM provides an easy way for me to toss a bite into my mouth and also feel like I'm getting a little shot of healthy goodness while I'm at it. I prefer eating a single GEM to a couple of sugary gummy vitamins any day, and I'm warming up to it over capsules as well. I like that I don't have to swallow a handful of pills to get essentials and taking a small bite in the morning with my coffee is almost like a little treat. I think cacao is the clear winner with the flavors, but peppermint is a close second. I find the nutrient-dense bites easy to take and the pleasing canister makes them easy to remember. The only downside for me is the slight aftertaste, but once you have coffee, tea, or something to eat, it goes away.
Would you try GEM?
Please do not enter your email address in the Name field or in the comment content. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *. Remember to post with kindness and respect. Comments with offensive language, cruelness to others, etc will not be approved. See our full comment policy here.