How to build a healthy trail mix

Not all trail mix is ​​created equal! With this tutorial on how to build a healthy trail mixget an overview of what’s included, what’s not included, and how to customize your homemade Trail mix recipe according to your wishes and needs!

I will always associate homemade trail mix with my hiking adventures or long car journeys. I chew trail mix almost exclusively when I’m on the road or driving, to a point where it’s starting to infiltrate all my meals as well. It simply packs some serious nutrition for its buck.

I’ll be hiking Yosemite in September and as a planner that I am I’m already preparing every detail including this wholesome trail mix! I mean I had to make sure it tasted good at least 7 times before we actually go…To the right?!

I have my favorite trail mix to share with you today, but I also made a customizable recipe so you can swap in and out your favorite ingredients.

Benefits of Trail Mix

If all trail mixes were made to this recipe, you could be assured that they would be of the highest quality; However, few store-bought trail mixes are this easy.

God only knows where they get their ingredients from, and typically their dried fruit is coated in sugar, nuts and seeds are roasted in hydrogenated oils, and then the entire mix is ​​coated in bad salt and jacked in price. I think you’re getting close to my goal…

Good quality homemade trail mix, in moderation, is 100% part of a healthy diet. Especially during high physical activity, where you need energy quickly.

This trail mix contains healthy fats and antioxidants from nuts and seeds, high-quality dried fruit for energy and fun, because health doesn’t have to mean missing out on fun. The taste is right too!

So let me convince you to ditch the store-bought trail mix in favor of this homemade trail mix recipe. Trust me, it will quickly become your favorite snack concoction.

Ingredients in trail mix

1. Nuts – Feel free to use any kind of nut here! Ideally, buy raw nuts that have not been coated and roasted in hardened or soybean oil and salt. Feel free to dry roast them at home for an even more enjoyable roast, but if you’re a nut purist, just leave them raw. Options include almonds, walnuts, pecans, cashews, hazelnuts, pistachios, macadamias, etc.

2. seeds – Don’t forget seeds! Seeds are often overlooked for the health benefits of nuts, but seeds actually contain some serious nutritional value, including protein, iron, magnesium, and a range of vitamins and minerals, including omega-3+6 fatty acids. Again, look for raw, unsalted seeds. Options include pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds.

3. Dried fruits – Due to the high sugar content in dried fruit, they’re a great snack to boost your low blood sugar after a high dose of physical activity. Be careful when picking dried fruit! Do your best to find sun-dried fruit that isn’t sugar-coated and ideally unsulphured. It’s more expensive but worth it. Options include good old raisins, dried mangoes, apricots, blueberries, coconut flakes, dried bananas (or banana chips), strawberries, and cranberries.

4. Funny Stuff!– Just because it’s healthy doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun! I’m all about balance, so feel free to add a handful of your favorite decadent or healthier decadent treat (kids love it too!). Dark chocolate and popcorn are my favorites, so those are my favorites, but feel free to go a little crazy with some pretzels, candy (Hello M&M), peanut butter chips, white chocolate chips, granola (Cheerios or Chex are). great!) or other sweet treat.

5. Spices – This is my secret ingredient in trail mix. Add a pinch of salt (or omit if you see sodium), some cinnamon, and a little nutmeg. You can also add some cayenne pepper if you like a little kick!

Now let’s learn how to create your own healthy trail mix!

My go-to trail mix ratio

• 1 1/2 cups raw nuts – Almonds, pecans, cashews, peanuts etc.
• 1 cup raw seeds – Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds etc…
• 1 cup dried fruit – ideally unsweetened, unsulphured dried fruit
• Funny things – Amounts vary – see below
• Spices- 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, pinch of nutmeg (optional)

How to make trail mix

The instructions for making this trail mix couldn’t be simpler. Simply combine all of your ingredients in a large bowl, then store in a ziplock bag or large mason jar. I’ve included the base quantities and my go-to recipe below.

pro tip: Store in individual ziplock bags or reusable storage bags for easy snacking on the go.

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