As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, Ray and I are hiking champs nowadays – and our appetite is showing it! Anytime we know we’re going to be out and about hiking for a few hours, I’ve started to love creating my own, individually-packed trail mixes to keep our energy up and keep our eye on the prize – whether that’s making it to the top of a mountain, or through a long work day.
There are certain elements that I make sure are included:
Nuts – Unsaturated fats, protein, and fiber, oh my! These will keep you feeling full longer, while also giving your system a power punch of tasty vitamins and minerals!
Dried Fruit – While you need to watch that you don’t go too crazy with this one, dried fruit adds a little sweetness while bringing antioxidants, fiber, calcium, and a whole source of nutrients to the party.
Seeds – While I don’t include too many of these, they provide an extra boost of nutrients, similar to nuts. Go crazy!
Whole Grains – Complex carbs build your energy to keep you going longer and help you feel full. Plus, they add a little crunch, and who doesn’t like that?!
Chocolate – Yes, the rest of these ingredients build energy, but a little bit of sugar gives that extra, immediate burst. Just be sure to add them sparingly and go for a sweet that won’t melt all over the place if you’ll be on the trails.
Since we’re planning to hike our first fourteener this weekend, I packed a few bags of a trail mix in advance. Since these hikes tend to take several hours, I made them with a bit more substance than if I needed these for a work day snack, so plan accordingly. Each of these pack a bit over 300 calories and are meant to keep us going for the long haul.
1/8 cup sunflower seeds
1/8 cup almonds
1/8 cup dried cranberries
1/8 cup original M&M
A bit under 1/2 cup Cheerios
Directions: Toss all in a lunch bag and get wild mixing them up! Enjoy!!
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What are your favorite snacks that are built to give you energy? Can’t wait to read your recommendations in the comments section below!
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So yummy! I totally forgot how much I used to love trail mix until this post! I love eating date balls for energy. Small and easy to pack, but packed with nutrients that can hold me over for a few hours.
June 16, 2015 at 9:44 amRight! I remember you mentioning your recipe for those on another post. I’ll have to check those out, soon! 🙂
June 16, 2015 at 10:06 am[…] snuck up on me! I would suggest having protein powders, your favorite granola bars, or my DIY Trail Mix available for when the hunger pangs strike. I was surrounded by candy non-stop last week and […]
November 10, 2015 at 6:48 am[…] of water, making you lethargic. For snacks, try mini pretzels, Clif Bars, or my favorite diy Trail MIx. All will have the nutrients you need to keep your system running across the […]
March 1, 2016 at 6:58 am