Healthy Snacks - Trail Mix Recipe
Crispy Nutty Trail Mix
Healthy Trail Mix Recipes
Healthy snacks of trail mix for yourself or your family are simple to make. Trail mixes tend to be high in calories, as they were initially designed for backpacking trips where extra energy is necessary. It is possible to make easy recipes with fewer calories, depending on your personal preferences.
There is a National Trail Mix Day annually on August 31st, however, its origins are unknown. Trail mix is also referred to as GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts). These healthy snacks are typically made using nuts, dried fruit, seeds, some type of cereal or granola, coconut and a bit of chocolate.
The good news is many recipes don’t use a lot of sugar.
Cook Time
Ingredients
- 1 cup Wheat Chex
- 1 cup Multi-Grain Cheerios
- 1 cup reduced-fat Triskets, broken
- 1 cup yogurt-covered pretzels
- 1/2 cup blanched almonds
- 1/2 cup dried apples, chopped
- 1/2 cup banana chips
- 1/2 cup dried blueberries
- 1/2 cup salted cashews
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate M&M's
- 1/3 cup finely shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/3 cup sunflower kernels
- 1/3 cup salted pumpkin seeds or pepitas
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine all of the above ingredients. Store in an airtight container.
- The unsweetened coconut in the baking or health food section of most grocery stores.
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving size: 1/2 cup | |
| Calories | 250 |
| Calories from Fat | 126 |
| % Daily Value * | |
| Fat 14 g | 22% |
| Saturated fat 6 g | 30% |
| Carbohydrates 28 g | 9% |
| Fiber 3 g | 12% |
| Protein 6 g | 12% |
| Cholesterol 1 mg | |
| * The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. | |
Healthy Homemade Trail Mix – Lean Body Lifestyle
Healthy Snack Food Items
We particularly like the above recipe, but I often change one ingredient for another. There is a wide variety of choices of foods you can include in your trail mix. For instance, if you don't like almonds, try pecans or soy nuts.
Some of the ingredients you might consider are:
- Sunflower kernels
- Safflower kernels
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Cashews
- Peanuts
- Pistachios
- Pumpkin or squash seeds
- Raisins or any other dried fruits
- Chocolate chips, M&M's
- Various cereals
Trail Mix 3 Ways
Recipes for Kids
Some simple trail mixes are great recipes for kids. They feel good about making something that tastes good. Using a zippered plastic bag, the child adds 1/4 cup of nuts, 1/4 cup of raisins or cherries, then cut up some dried apples, adding 1/2 cup to the mix. The last ingredient is 1/4 cup of chocolate chips. Let your child shake up the mixture, then store it in a cool, dry place so the chocolate doesn't melt. There are nine serving of 1/4 cup with 135 calories.
Use Nuts in Trail Mix
Summary
Trail mix is a great snack to have around the house for a quick pick-me-up, and it is certainly healthier than potato chips or candy. There are numerous recipes easily found on the internet which will suit your particular taste. There is also a wide variety of healthy snacks available at the grocery or health food stores.
Trail Mix Poll
Have you ever made trail mix at home?
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
