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Bring homemade trail mix next time you hike

Posted on April 29 2016

trail mix outdoors

You're a big fan of the outdoors. Whether it's hunting, fishing, hiking or camping- you revel in being outside and closer to nature. But so often, when you're out in the wilderness, you have to fight that feeling of hunger until you get to the next rest stop or head back to town. 

It's always a good idea to carry food with you. You never know what can happen when you're on an outdoor adventure, so be prepared. Besides having water handy, another important provision is some form of sustenance. But what are your options?

Many food items will go bad if they're out of the refrigerator or freezer for too long, so your options are somewhat limited. Lucky for you, hikers and outdoorsmen before you came up with the novel idea of trail mix. A simple mixture of nuts, crackers, dried fruit and something sweet can provide you the healthy burst of energy you need while participating in outdoor activities of all kinds. Prepare your own trail mix before you go hiking. If you're going on a lengthy hike, use FoodVacBags vacuum sealer bags to protect your snack and ensure it doesn't take up too much space in your bag. Here are two simple trail mix recipes: 

Kiddos favorite trail mix

Start to finish: 5 minutes

Servings: 15

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Cheerios (original, honey nut, apple cinnamon, whatever flavor)
  • 1 cup Goldfish cheese crackers
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup cashews
  • 1 cup chocolate M&M's
  • 1 cup peanut butter chips
  • 1 cup mini pretzels
  • 1/2 cup dried banana chips
  • 1/2 cup raisins

Instructions:

  1. Add all ingredients to large bowl.
  2. Toss around by hand or with a large spoon to make sure ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mix. 

If you have an allergy to nuts, don't panic. Here is one more idea for a simple trail mix that is nut-free.

Nut-less trail mix

Start to finish: 45 minutes

Servings: 15

Ingredients: 

  • Two 15-ounce cans roasted chickpeas
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 cup sunflower kernels
  • 1.5 cups dried cranberries
  • 1.5 cups banana chips
  • 1.5 cups pumpkin seeds
  • 1/2 cup dried blueberries
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Instructions (for the roasted chickpeas):

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Rinse and remove any remaining skin from the roasted chickpeas.
  3. Place the chickpeas in a single layer on a baking sheet. Add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil and salt to taste. Toss the chickpeas with a serving spoon or your own hands.
  4. Cook in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, shifting the chickpeas on the baking sheet every 10 minutes. Don't be alarmed if you hear a few of the chickpeas popping as they roast.
  5. Remove from the oven and place the baking sheet on a hot pad or stove top. Add any herbs or seasonings you might like (thyme, garlic powder, chili powder, etc.).
  6. Add to your other, uncooked ingredients. Serve immediately or vacuum seal and save for the trail.

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