Homemade Trail Mixes for Energy and Healthy Flow

Whether you are planning on going on a backpacking adventure or hiking up a mountain, you need to make sure that you take a bag of delicious trail mix with you. Homemade trail mixes for energy and healthy flow are perfect because they can give you a much needed spike of energy that will help you maintain a steady level. It is also really easy to see why they are considered to be the best backpacking food because it is really easy to eat them on the go.

What ingredients should be used in homemade trail mixes?

Most of the ingredients that can be found in homemade trail mixes are healthy and have a high nutritional value, but you can occasionally find a few little unhealthy morsels hidden among them. They also have to be really good at keeping your blood sugar level constant while you are on the move. Some of the most important ingredients include:

• Nuts

Nuts should be the ground base of any trail mix because they are packed full of unsaturated fats, protein, fiber, antioxidants and an array of other important vitamins and minerals. Most of the nuts that you will see in pre-made trail mixes will be either raw or roasted and you should aim for nuts that are unsalted and not sweetened if you want to keep your sugar and sodium levels under control.

• Seeds

Seeds are the perfect option for people who are allergic to nuts, or for people who simply do not like the taste of nuts. They can also be used to introduce a new texture to your trail mix and add a new flavor to make it more enjoyable. The nutritional benefits that can be found in seeds are similar to those that can be found in nuts.

• Fruit

If you want something to break up the relatively nutty flavor and texture of your trail mix, then fruit can present you with the perfect opportunity to do just that. We would always suggest that you use dried fruit in your trail mix, especially if you are planning on eating while you are on the move. You can find fiber, antioxidants, calcium and a number of different vitamins in dried fruit.

• Sweets

While sweets are not the healthiest option that can be found out there, they can be the perfect way to sweeten up your trail mix. These are also a perfect addition for people who have a sweet tooth and people who would usually consider trail mixes to be boring. Just remember to add sweets in moderation.

Our Homemade Trail Mixes

Everyone who enjoys spending time in the wilderness will have heard of ‘GORP’, a rather traditional type of trail mix that is also known as ‘good old raisins and peanuts’. While GORP is undisputedly nutritious, you have to consider the fact that some people don’t like eating raisins and peanuts. Today, we are going to share a few of our favorite homemade trail mix snack recipes with you.

1. The Traditional Trail Mix

Our take on the traditional trail mix involves adding a few extra layers to it and making it a little bit more fun than just eating raisins and peanuts would be. All you need to get started is 1 cup of peanuts, 1 cup of dark raisins, 1 cup of whole almonds and 1 cup of a dried fruit of your choice. For an extra layer, you could also add ½ cup of sunflower seeds.

To make your trail mix, you just have to add all of the different ingredients to a large bowl. Mix them up thoroughly so that every handful would involve a mixture of all of the different ingredients. Then you should store them in either an airtight container or a zip lock bag so that your homemade trail mix is ready for when you need it.

2. The Nut Allergy Trail Mix

Approximately 1% of the total population is allergic to peanuts and a lot of the people who are will avoid purchasing store bought trail mixes because of their allergy.  If you are allergic to nuts, don’t worry. There are plenty of different homemade trail mix options that you can try. They can also still offer you all of the nutritional value that you will need them to have while you are out on the trail.

To make our nut allergy trail mix, you will need to get 2 cups of sunflower seeds, 1 cup of dark raisins, 1 cup of cranberries and 1 cup of an item of your choice. The item of your choice could be a type of seed, a type of dried fruit or some kind of sweet. You just have to mix all of the items together before storing your homemade trail mix away.

3. Tropical Trail Mix

Who would not love to be sitting on a beach, under the sun, watching the waves slowly roll by? Our tropical trail mix will at least fill your mouth with the flavors of the tropics, but we cannot guarantee that the weather will come with it. All you need is 1 cup of coconut flakes, 1 cup of dried papaya, 1 cup of dried mango, 1 cup of banana chips and then 1 cup full of your favorite type of nut or seed. Mix them all together, store them away and your homemade trail mix is ready.

4. Saving a Sweet Tooth Trail Mix

There are a lot of people out there who absolutely detest trail mix because it simply isn’t sweet enough. But, what if you could add something sweet to your trail mix? If you have a sweet tooth, then you should take 1 cup of sunflower seeds, 1 cup of raisins, 1 cup of almonds, 1 cup of dried fruit and 1 cup of a sweet of your choice.

The sweet that you choose could be anything from chocolate chips and mini marshmallows, to yogurt-covered raisins and chocolate-covered cocoa beans. This additional layer should give you the sugar kick that you need to enjoy your trail mix.

Head Out on Your Adventure

It is a well-known and undisputed fact that trail mixes are the literal kinds of outdoor snacks. Making your own trail mix means that you can tailor it to meet the textures and flavors that you enjoy, rather than just buying one from a shop that could include ingredients that you absolutely detest. Not to mention that with your very own pieces of energy by your side, all you need is a great binocular to start that wonderful adventure you’ve been dreaming about for months!

Do you have any trail mix recipes that you would like to share? We would love to hear about them in the comments below!