Getting you started on outdoor adventures

Trail mix is a camping favorite, either for a fun snack or to take with you on a hike. The goals of trail mix are to:

1. Be yummy
2. Provide a quick energy boost
3. Travel well

Some people use trail mix to replace a meal, especially while hiking. I’ve never been able to do that but I do eat trail mix as an easy, non-messy, portable snack! (And I ALWAYS bring lunch too!)

Fantastic Trail Mix

INGREDIENTS:

• Nuts
• Dried fruit pieces
• Goldfish® crackers
• M&Ms® (optional)

For nuts, you want something that is not too oily and that holds up well in a plastic bag at the bottom of your backpack. I prefer almonds or pecans. Even though pecans are a soft nut and will crumble, they’re easy to eat. I don’t use peanuts or cashews, but I don’t like them anyway!

Dried fruit is the quick, healthy way to get a bit of sugar into your blood stream. Good choices are raisins, dried cranberries, dried cherries, chopped dried apricots, chopped prunes, banana or apple chips.

Goldfish® or other small crackers will add salt (as will nuts) to the trail mix. Nothing tastes better to me than when my raisins get salty! Goldfish are a good choice because they don’t break easily. Also good would be Wheat Thins® or Triscuits® . I don’t recommend Ritz or Saltines since they will both crumble easily.

M&Ms® are a good candy bet since they don’t melt easily. I don’t like candy in my trail mix- there’s enough sugar from the fruit.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl with a big spoon. Then, spoon into snack size baggies. Store your trail mix in a cool dry place.

Cheesy Trail Mix

This is a quick trail mix that can be thrown together in camp or mixed up at home. Its low in sugar since there’s no candy.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups mini pretzels
• 1 cup cheese snack crackers (either Goldfish® or Cheez-it®)
• 1 cup honey roasted peanuts
• 1 cup raisins

You can also substitute dried cranberries for the raisins. Place all ingredients into a plastic baggie, seal, and then shake.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with the amounts of the ingredients – it’s your mix, fix it the way you want!

The Outdoor Princess’ Favorite Trail Mix

A quick trail mix that I take just about everywhere

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 handful of Ocean Spray® Craisins® Sweetened Dried Cranberries
• 1.5 or 2 handfuls of pecans

I eat about three Craisins® with each nut to balance out the flavors.

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