Basic Trail Mix Recipe

Trail mix is a quick and easy way to get your simple, healthy snacks in. Instead of buying the small, expensive brand-name packages from the store, buy the ingredients and create them yourself at home.

There are many health benefits to both eating snacks regularly as well as a healthy balance in the snacks you eat. I personally recommend starting off with a basic nut and raisin (or cranberry) trail mix recipe and adding other ingredients as you desire. My personal favorites are pecans, cashews, and dried cranberries.

Many people shy away from eating nuts, saying that they are high in fat content, but in actuality most are quite a healthy addition to your diet. The April 2001 issue of Metabolism reports that a diet rich in nuts, vegetables, and fruit may reduce cholesterol levels as much as medication!

"Nuts can actually lower bad cholesterol levels while raising the good. Furthermore, studies have shown that nuts have the potential to fight free radicals associated with cancer."

"A few handfuls of raw nuts as a snack food are completely satisfying and the protein and fat not only satisfy the hunger, but give lots of energy_." Nuts are high in vitamin E and potassium, and are known sources of protein, niacin, B vitamins, and folate. By eating a variety of nuts, you will ingest several important vitamins and minerals."

Dried cranberries are a good source of dietary fiber, as far as snacks go. You can also feel free to experiment with any type of dried fruit you choose. Although you receive the maximum benefit from fresh fruit, feel free to try it as a snack, dried and/or sweetened.

As far as dried cranberries and fruit, in addition to being delicious, they are mess-free, soft, natural and available year-round. This alleviates the hassle of carrying a light snack around with you as well as the shelf-life being a little longer than fresh fruit and other foods. Pack it in snack-size bags, or even sandwich bags, store them in the pantry or another cool place, and they're ready to go!

Simple Trail Mix

¾ cup dried, sweetened cranberries
½ cup raw pecans
½ cup raw almonds
½ cup dried mango or blueberries
½ cup banana chips
2 pinches of fine sea salt

If you need a little more taste, you can add lightly salted or roasted nuts, such as sunflower seeds, peanuts, etc. Other possible ingredients to add are golden raisins, dried strawberries, dried peach chunks, and other nuts of your choice.

Mix, shake up...and enjoy!

"The Different Kinds of Nuts and Their Nutritional Value"
http://www.helium.com/items/826933-the-different-kinds-of-nuts-and-their-nutritional-value

"Nuts Are Good For You : Go Nuts!!"
http://www.nutcrackermuseum.com/history_nuts_good.htm