
I never buy trail mix at the supermarket. As far as snacks go, it is a healthier option, but I don’t like store-bought trail mix because:
- It always tastes stale
- It is expensive
- Your options are limited
- Additives
- Excess packaging in the case of litter free lunchboxes
I looked up the ingredients on one popular brand of trail mix:
Cashew nuts, Almonds, Brazil nuts, Cranberries (Sugar, Sunflower seed oil), Sultanas (Sunflower seed oil, Citric acid, Sulphur dioxide), Papaya cubes (Sugar, Citric acid, Sulphur dioxide), Pineapple (Sugar, Citric acid, Sulphur doixide), Banana chips, Honey, Flavourings, Coconut Flakes.
I prefer to make my own trail mix. Most dried fruit has been treated with a preservative (sulphur dioxide and citric acid), so the only ways to reduce my preservative intake is to add less dried fruit, or to buy from a supplier that sells preservative free dried fruit.
I make my own trail mix because it always tastes fresher, I can purchase ingredients more in line with my budget, and my options are almost unlimited which makes it easier to cater for the different tastes (and allergies) of my family.
Here are some ideas for ingredients you can add to your own trail mixes, in no particular order:
Trail Mix Ingredient Ideas
Dried Fruit
- Dried cranberries (my favourite)
- Dried goji berries
- Raisins
- Sultanas
- Banana Chips
- Dried pineapple
- Dried apricot/peach slices
- Prunes
- Coconut flakes
- Dried Mango slices
- Dates
Seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Pine nuts
Nuts; Ground & Tree
- Peanuts
- Cashews
- Almonds
- Brazil nuts
- Pecan nuts
- Pistachio nuts
- Walnuts
- Macadamia nuts
- Walnuts
Fun Things and Treats
- Pretzels
- Cereal pieces like Oatees
- Crackers
- Popcorn
- Salt
- Spices such as cinnamon (sweet), or coriander and cumin (savoury)
- Chocolate covered raisins
- Chocolate covered peanuts
- Chocolate chips
- Mini marshmallows
- Mebos pieces
Can you think of anything else to add to the list?