We recently just got back from a food-fueled trip to Canada (that place has some amazing food, and if I wasn't too busy eating it I would have taken lots of photos for you 🙂 ). Yes we travel a lot, and yes my 3 year old has more stamps on her passport at 3 than I did by the time I was 20....
I digress. When we travel the 80% clean eating, 20% whatever I want rule tends to get a bit relaxed. If a place has some item of food they are famous for, I am going to be trying that food. For example, if there are 3 supposedly amazing doughnut shops, and 4 out of this world ice cream shops close to our accommodation - we will be venturing to them all. Same goes for poutine, I am going to be trying that in all it's forms and beauty. We may or may not have booked our accommodation based on the nearby restaurants. I admit nothing...
We (as in my husband and I) try and justify these excessive treats by renting an apartment through airbnb so that we can have a somewhat decent kitchen in which to make our breakfasts and snacks and the occasional meal (ok ok it was 1 meal in ten days other than breakfast - but who cooks on vacation unless you are camping or on some culinary retreat?)
I *always* make a big batch of fruit and nut mix to bring with us. It is the one thing I can whip up before we leave and be guaranteed that it will travel well. Plus it keeps the kids entertained during long flights (trying to find the couple of pieces of dark chocolate I have hidden in there is like 2 hours of entertainment right there). It is also really lightweight, so it's not going to weigh down your luggage. Fruit and Nut Mix also doubles as a great crunchy topping to add to some yoghurt in the mornings for a quick breakfast option - that's thinking ahead for you right there!
With back to school happening all over the U.S. at the moment, fruit and nut mix is the perfect healthy trail mix option for little ones during recess time, or for a quick after school snack that won't spoil their appetite for dinner.
As always, mix this recipe up with what you have on hand or your preferences. I have a whole drawer in my pantry dedicated to nuts, and can never decide which are my favorite, so a little bit of everything tends to get thrown in there. With this one I opted for some almonds, cashews and hazelnuts, but add what tickles your fancy - you can't go wrong. This is a great activity to get the kids involved in the kitchen as well (just don't expect the chocolate chunks to last)!!
Loaded Fruit and Nut Mix with Dark Chocolate Studs
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown rice cereal O's or cereal of choice
- 1 cup natural pop corn
- 1 cup nuts of choice (I used a mix of hazelnuts cashews and almonds)
- 1/3 cup pepitas
- 1/3 cup sunflower seeds
- 2/3 cup goji berries
- 1/4 cup cacao nibs
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chunks optional
Instructions
- Put all of the ingredients together in a large bowl
- Use your hands or a spoon to mix and combine well. Keep stored in an airtight container or resealable bag
Toughcookiemommy says
I've been trying to do more clean eating as well. I think I will make this and take it to work with me in September.
Donna1 says
Good idea, it can be so easy to reach for the sugary snacks at work (especially in the afternoons!!)
Michelle @ Sunshine and Hurricanes.com says
I love customized trail mix! It's fun to create and you can use the things that are a hit with your family!
Donna1 says
Exactly!! Much better than the store-bought versions 🙂
Amanda says
Yummy! This looks really good. I don't think I have ever had gogi berries. I am gonna have to try this out.
Donna1 says
You should try them, they are so yummy, and little powerhouses of goodness 🙂 Find them in the dried fruit section
Wendy says
This is just perfect! I was just saying that I needed to make snack recipes more of a priority so I don't reach for the wrong things.
Donna1 says
Oh I know, it is so easy to reach for the easy pre-packaged stuff, especially whilst traveling!!
Louise Bishop says
Boy, does this look delicious! I love trail mix type snacks and enjoy making my own when I can! Thanks for the recipe!
Donna1 says
Very welcome, homemade is always best 🙂
Teresa says
This does look like a great snack - my husband would be all over this. We can't take nuts to any of our schools due to so any kdids allergies these days - but this would work well at home!
Donna1 says
Oh I know, I don't add nuts when we will be taking this on the plane just in case. Theres enough other bulky items in here to get away without the nuts for school snacks though 🙂
Taylor Mobley says
Okay that looks amazing. My husband and I are roadtrippers (almost 60 hours on the road in the last two weeks) so this would be the perfect snack for that!
Donna1 says
Oh wow, 60 hours!! That sounds amazing! We definitely haven't clocked that many hours in such a short space of time, but I do dream of hiring an RV and driving for a few weeks at a time when the kids are a bit bigger 🙂
Ana De- Jesus says
Ooh this looks like the perfect snack, especially since it combines salty and sweet flavors. Isn't that heavenly?
Donna1 says
I just love the salty and sweet combo 🙂
Whitney S. says
This looks like such a great snack! I'd probably eat it all at once and then there wouldn't be any left lol
Donna1 says
Haha you sound just like me Whitney 🙂 I snack away on all the ingredients while mixing it up, and suddenly half of it has disappeared!!
Kiwi says
The older I get the more I like nuts. I am experimenting with new nut types and I like the assortment of the ones you are showing with the fruit!
Donna1 says
Thanks Kiwi! I am a total nut addict, and have a whole drawer in the pantry devoted to every nut imaginable 🙂
Cynthia @craftoflaughter says
What a healthy snack this would be to too in my bag on the go. I could do without the chocolate though! What a mess it would be in hot texas, ha
Donna1 says
Oh yeah that would not be pretty 🙂 The cacao holds up in the heat, so you can still have a little hint of chocolate in there!!
Blythe Alpern says
This is my idea of the perfect snack. It mixes salty and sweet, and of course has that crunch. I love dark chocolate and pepitas, so I can't wait to try this out for fall.
Donna1 says
Oh yay, so glad to hear it Blythe! I am such a fan of the sweet-salty combo since moving to the states and trying some of the awesome popcorn combos around 🙂
Terri Steffes says
When we vacation, we pick several restaurants that we want to have dinner in, and then cook lunches and breakfasts. My husband is an excellent cook, though, so he can use local fresh ingredients and create a mind blowing meal.
Donna1 says
Good idea! We try to do the same, but end up with so many restaurants we want to try that there just aren't enough meals in the vacation 🙂 We definitely do every breakfast, and manage a couple of lunches if we find an awesome market with fresh produce! Thats awesome that your hubby is such an excellent cook, makes all the difference 🙂
Cassandra @ Powered By BLING says
I love making healthy trail mixes like this one with leftover popcorn. Something about the salty, sweet and crunchy that really hits the spot!
Donna1 says
Oh I hear ya Cassandra! That salty/sweet combo is the best 🙂
jen says
I could use a healthy snack idea for a trip that I'm going on soon. I love snacking on nuts but sometimes when you buy them premade they are a bit pricey. love it!
Donna1 says
Oh I know, the remade ones can be ridiculously expensive!! Thats why I just use up whatever we have left in the pantry for my snack mixes 🙂
Kecia @ Online Income Mom says
I have got to start making this for my two boys. They love each of these items, but I've never put them together. Since it travels well, this would be a good snack to take in their backpacks!
Donna1 says
Thats exactly what I did for our last trip - they each had one in their little travel pack and just dug in whenever they got hungry, and lets face it, with kids thats all the time 🙂