homemade trail mix
keep it raw & keep it simple
but also, add a little variety to your snacks so you never get bored and reach for something that won’t make you feel so great, just out of habit.
The best part about this trail-mix “recipe” is that it’s really a suggestion of ideas for you to mix and match, and have fun with, depending on your mood. Or the amount of time that you have to prep.
You might be wondering why I’d even suggest spending the time to build your own trail-mix vs. picking up a convenient pre-assorted bag, and you definitely could do that, but I would urge you to turn over the bag and look at the ingredients. Check to see if there are any unnecessary additives like rice bran oil (ps, avoid this if you are gluten-free), food coloring, fruit juice or sugars.
habit hack:
If you are someone who reaches for the closest candy bar or bag of chips (which, let me be clear, is totally ok to do when you are actively looking for a special treat, but not the best thing to do when you are passively eating to save time, fill a void, etc. or if you do this on repeat over days and then months and years…) then pre-make a big trail-mix mixture and divvy up portions in various containers or stasher bags to give yourself easy and obvious access to the supportive, long-term eating habit that you want to create.
ingredients:
slivered or whole almonds
pumpkin seeds
walnuts
sunflower seeds
medjool dates, chopped
unsweetened or toasted coconut flakes
goji berries
mulberries
figs
raw cacao nibs
cashews
brazil nuts
directions:
identify a mix of seeds, nuts and dried fruit that you would like to combine. This is more of a suggestion then a direction, but I typically put all my fixin’s on the counter, along with a big bowl and mix away.
aim for a 70/30 balance of salty & crunchy (nuts, seeds) to sweet’ish (berries, figs, nibs)
one of my favorite combos: brazil nuts, figs, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, goji berries, mulberries, walnuts
recipe notes:
stick with raw and ideally, unsalted nuts
many health food & grocery stores, including Whole Foods, have bulk bins where you can purchase several of the above ingredients. Alternatively, Trader Joe’s and Thrive Market are also great places to purchase nuts, seeds, and dried fruits from, for affordable prices.
