Easy DIY Trail Mix Recipe + 5 Healthy Ingredient Ideas

May 10, 2016 by Wendy

Easy DIY Trail Mix Recipe + 5 Healthy Ingredient Ideas

Try out this easy DIY Trail Mix recipe! It’s a great source of protein, and perfect for on the go. It will also save you a bunch of money by creating your own mix. You can make it special by adding in some of your own favorites (be sure to check our recommendations below!) Make it healthier by cutting out candy-coated chocolates found in most name-brand varieties!

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In this recipe I used unsalted nuts, and the very least sugar-coated dried fruits I could find. That’s what you really want to look for while shopping for your own ingredients. You want to avoid extra sodium (salt) and sugar. If you have the time, you can dry your own fruits and control what’s in them. I have an old Ronco Food Dehydrator – my parents got it at a garage sale and we share it. Everyone in the family has put it to good use!

This recipe goes great with the Nutrisystem diet by providing 2 SmartCarbs, and 1 PowerFuel, and 1 Extra per 1 cup serving, making it perfect as a snack option throughout the day, or even a yummy addition to your breakfast cereal or yogurt. Feel free to add in some granola, or other Nutrisystem approved fruits & nuts, and change it up to include what you like! A whole cup is a lot of calories though, so I’d recommend more like 1/4 cup or less if you’re adding to another main ingredient.

Please note: trail mix is meant to provide calories and nutrients needed to keep you moving on the trail. It’s generally NOT low-calorie. Just because the ingredients are healthy doesn’t mean you should eat a lot of it. Trail mix should be eaten only in small amounts as an occasional snack. It’s a great snack when you’re hiking!

Idea: whip up a batch of trail mix, and then bag it up as individual snacks to grab on-the-go!

Trail Mix Ingredient ideas:

Almonds: contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, muscle-building protein, are high in vitamin E and dietary fiber. Excellent for giving you energy, but steer clear of salted almonds as they may make you thirsty on the trail
Seeds: the healthy fats and protein in seeds gives you long-term energy, and seeds add great texture to the mix. Try unsalted sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds (make sure the shells are removed). Use freshly ground flax seeds to get heart-protecting Omega 3 fatty acids
Dark Chocolate: perfect way to add some sweet to your mix. Sugar adds some instant energy, and dark chocolate has a healthy dose of antioxidants. Use sparingly – a little goes a long way unlike milk chocolate or sugar-coated candies (like M&Ms)
Dried Fruits: Raisins, dried cranberries, apples, pineapple, apricots, etc. Fruit contains vitamins and fructose – a natural sugar for ready-energy. Just make sure the fruit does not contain added sugar
Oats: Toast rolled oats on a baking sheet in the oven. Flavor with vanilla extract or sprinkle of cinnamon. Adds fiber and helps reduce cholesterol and protect the body from heart disease.

Easy DIY Trail Mix

Author: Wendy
Total Time: 10 mins
Yield: 8 (1 cup) 1x

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Description

Trail mix can be really expensive, so make your own and add the best ingredients for less money! You’ll get all the ready energy you need at a fraction of the cost.

Ingredients

Scale

6 oz Package of Dried Bananas
6 oz Package of All Natural Dried Cranberries
4.5 oz Package of Dried Apples
5 oz Package unsalted Sunflower Seeds
3.5 oz Package unsalted Dry-Roasted Almonds
3 oz Package unsalted Cashews

Instructions

Dump contents of each package into a large bowl
Cut in half larger Apple & Banana pieces
Mix well
Divide 1 cup servings into individual containers or baggies
Enjoy!

Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 5 mins
Category: Snack
Cuisine: American

Queso Dip: Sausage & Beer Cheese Dip Recipe

February 27, 2015 by Wendy

Photo credit: Kraft

Queso Dip: Cheese Dip with Beer & Sausage Recipe

This is a fantastic queso dip recipe, which is super easy and tasty. Of course, queso is Spanish for cheese. And cheese is what gives this dip its rich flavor. Queso dip is a perfect snack to cure the munchies – whether you’re snacking at a Super Bowl party or for any game day appetizer! Or, serve it any time! Because, the combination of cheese, beer and sausage give a robust taste that’s hard to beat.

Serving Suggestion

This delectable app should be served warm. You can serve with sliced Smoked Sausage (cook separately), or over chips as a Nacho cheese appetizer.

Beer cheese dip is also great as a vegetable dip, and it’s amazing on pretzels! You can make the big soft pretzels or even the little crunchy pretzels.

Which beer to use in Beer Cheese dip?

Depending on the beer you choose, you can totally change the taste of this dip! In other words, in a recipe like this, I prefer to use a lighter-tasting beer. And, I don’t mean light beer in respect to calories, I mean a light-tasting beer in respect to the taste. Of course, it’s also perfectly fine to use a lower-calorie light beer! I admit, I often cook with cheap beer, because it’s better than drinking it! (LOL!)

So, for a lighter taste, look for lager. Most commercially sold American-Style Light Lager beer (Coors, Coors Light, Miller Lite, Budweiser, Bud Light, etc.) would be great to use in this recipe.

Ales are generally more robust-tasting, are more fruity and aromatic and can be bitter (Bass, Sierra Nevada, Newcastle, etc.) Of course, Cheddar and Ale dip is fantastic too. However, I want you to be aware of which to use depending on the taste you want to achieve.

Finally, Stout beers are probably too heavy for this. But, if you try and love it, please let me know which stout you found in the comments!

Queso Dip: Cheese Dip with Beer & Sausage Recipe

Author: Wendy
Total Time: 16 mins
Yield: 6 servings 1x

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Description

Whether you need a midnight snack or a Super Bowl appetizer, this Beer Cheese Queso Dip with Sausage will hit the spot like no other! It’s easy and tasty, and you’ll love it!

Ingredients

Scale

1 (12 oz) bottle or can of beer or ale (see suggestions)
1.5 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese
2 Tablespoons white flour
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese
1⁄2 cup salsa of choice (e.g. Pace)
1 package smoked sausage

Instructions

In saucepan, heat beer to simmering.
In a separate bowl, mix cheese and flour.
Add cheddar cheese mixture and cream cheese to pan, stir.
When cheese is completely melted, remove from heat.
Stir in salsa, and transfer to a serving bowl.
Serve with smoked sausage or over tortilla chips.
Optionally, add pepper sauce (e.g. Tobasco) to spice it up!

Notes

For a lighter taste, look for Lager beer. Or, for a more robust tasting queso cheese dip, use an Ale beer.

Prep Time: 1 min
Cook Time: 15 mins
Category: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Baked Low Carb Keto Pepperoni Chips Recipe

January 22, 2015 by Wendy

Baked Low Carb Keto Pepperoni Chips Recipe

If you love pepperoni, then you’re not going to believe how good these low-carb Pepperoni chips are! They’re crunchy like potato chips, without the starch! That’s why they’re sometimes known as Pepperoni Crisps. And they’re ZERO carbs! They’re great for low-carbohydrate diets like Keto, Atkins and others! When you’re craving a snack, then grab this!

My personal tried and true way to lose weight is by following a low-carb diet. Years ago I lost quite a bit of weight by simply cutting out breads, sugar, and starches from my diet. Paired with even light exercise, I started dropping pounds, and losing inches quickly! I ended up taking off nearly 70 lbs in about a year. That was some time ago now, and I have since had my little girl, and became a work from home mom. Unfortunately over the years all of that weight slowly creeped its way back on my hips, and thighs, and everywhere else! Recently I have decided to truly give the low carb diet a try again (yay!). Being the *snacker* that I am it’s important that I find recipes that can curb my urges.

I went searching online for an alternative to potato chips. Something salty, with a crunch that would be great for dipping but still fit into my diet. Ta da! Pepperoni Chips, seriously why did I not think of this before? It just so happens that I love pepperoni, and these are so easy to make!

Check out the recipe below, and give it a try! Whether you are like me following a low carb diet or just want to try something new, then you are sure to enjoy these!

What You’ll Need

Nonstick baking sheet (like a cookie sheet)
Cooling rack (make sure it’s safe to put IN the oven!)
Pepperoni (the kind I get is a 5 oz package, so this recipe calls for 5 oz)

Baked Low Carb Keto Pepperoni Chips Recipe

Author: gimmie
Total Time: 9 minutes
Yield: 6

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Description

This easy low-carb Keto Pepperoni Chips recipe takes less than 10 minutes, including baking time! And, there’s zero carbohydrates! Baked Pepperoni crisps are so good, your whole family will love them!

Ingredients

Pepperoni (5 oz)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° F (204° C).
Spread the pepperoni pieces evenly on the baking rack, and set the rack on top of a baking sheet. Make sure the baking sheet will catch any grease from the pepperoni while baking.
Bake for about 5-7 minutes, until crispy. If still greasy, you can bake for another minute or two. Or, blot with a paper towel.

Prep Time: 2
Cook Time: 7
Category: Snacks

Nutrition

Calories: 116
Carbohydrates: 0

Keywords: keto, low carb, low carbohydrates, snack, salty, easy

EASY Sea-Salt Turtles Recipe (Pecans, Pretzels & Chocolate)

December 11, 2014 by Wendy

EASY Sea-Salt Turtles Recipe (Pecans, Pretzels & Chocolate)

If you love a sweet and salty snack, then don’t miss this EASY Sea-Salt Turtles Recipe. Because, it’s Sea Salt Caramel, Pecan & Chocolate Candy rolled into one. It’s sweet, it’s salty and, it’s to die for.

Christmas baking has been a tradition in my family since I was just a little girl. My mom would always have tons of treats to choose from, and every year would make a few new treats to try. Last year, my mom made these Salted Turtles. They were so tasty and SO easy to do! So, my son and I decided we were going to make Salty Turtles this year, and enjoy eating and sharing them.

Salted caramel has become quite a hit in desserts and coffee lately. So, salted caramel lovers everywhere will love these!

Quick and Easy EASY Sea-Salt Turtles Recipe

And, as an added treat, it’s EASY to make. Because, it doesn’t take long. Of course, the most time consuming part is unwrapping those tasty ROLO candy bars! So, I had my 6-year old do that for me! I told him when they were all unwrapped, that he could eat 2 pieces. Voila! They were unwrapped quickly, and I could work on other things while he had his task to do.

Salty and Sweet Goodness

Of course, these delectable morsels will satisfy the chocolate, sweet, chewy, salty and crunchy cravings in one little bite.

Salty Turtles Recipe (Sea Salt Caramel, Pecan & Chocolate Candy)

Author: gimmie

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Description

Salty Turtles are quick and easy, and only 3 ingredients! This take on the classic Turtles candy is delicious and your whole family will love them!

Ingredients

Scale

30 mini pretzels
30 Rolos
30 pecan halves
Sea salt (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 200° F (93° Celcius).
Place the pretzels on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Place an unwrapped Rolo candy on top of each pretzel.
Bake for 3-5 minutes (when Rolos are just starting to look like they’re going to melt, but are still the same shape).
Remove from the oven. Press a pecan half onto the Roll, smushing it slightly.
Optionally, sprinkle sea salt on top.
Allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Serve, or store in an airtight container.