Ghoulishly Delicious Trail Mix (with Bonus Special Treat-bag Idea)

Halloween is a special holiday for kids of all ages that has become a time of over-indulging in sugary snacks and treats. So do your children have a Halloween party coming up? Are you thinking of all that candy and cringing inside? Want an idea your kids will love and it still be healthy? How about a trick-or-treat bag of trail mix? (Idea for making the serving bags follows the recipe.) First, trail mix is a healthy low-sugar snack idea. Second, it can be customized to suit your kids' tastes or needs! Here's a recipe that my kids love!

Ingredient list:

2 cups multi-grain cheerios

1 cup bran flakes

½ cup of lightly toasted coconut

½ cup of dried cranberries

½ cup of dried raisins

½ cup of lightly salted cashews

½ cup of toasted pecan halves

½ cup of honey

Place the cheerios, bran flakes and pecans in a bowl and drizzle with the honey. Spread mixture onto lightly buttered baking sheet and place in preheated 250 degree oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and allow mixture to cool on pan to room temperature. Combine cooled mixture with remaining ingredients. Separate into ½ cup servings and enjoy!

Variations: Dried pineapple, dried papaya, peanuts, mixed nuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds (shelled), corn nuts, soy nuts, pretzel sticks, miniature pretzels, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, peanut butter chips, yogurt covered raisins (chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or any combination of the three), crispy corn cereal (Crispix or Chex)

Want to add a special touch to your special treat? Hand-decorated snack bags add just the right touch.

Materials list:

Brown paper lunch bags

Sandwich size zipper top plastic snack bags

1 can black spray paint

1 can orange spray paint

Assorted crayons, markers, paints with brushes

Old newspapers

Black ribbon and orange ribbon

Take the brown paper lunch bags and separate out and open them up. Take the bags and the two cans of spray paint outside. On a dry, flat surface away from the wind place the opened bags and spray paint half orange and the other half black or you can paint half of each bag each color, get creative! Allow painted bags to dry for 10 to 15 minutes then take back inside. Cover a table with the old newspaper and use the crayons, markers or paints to paint/draw your own spooky designs on the bags. Allow the bags to dry if needed. Place one bag of ghoulishly delicious trail mix into each paper bag and tie with a piece of black or orange ribbon. Perfect!