FRIDAY FARE: Healthy Trail Mix

I read an article from Shape Magazine yesterday that was titled: "The Most Deceiving Foods - They Have More Calories Than You Think". Looking through the different foods was interesting. Most of them were ok to eat if you just watched your serving size. One of the foods was trail mix. Here is what it said about that:

This seemingly healthy snack can cost you almost 700 calories per cup! Trail mix can include a wide range of ingredients, but you're almost always better off skipping store-bought brands and making your own at home. Our suggestion: Mix 1 ounce of walnuts and about a teaspoon each of raisins and chocolate chips. The result is satisfying snack for about 250 calories.

After reading this, I thought I'd look for some good healthy trail mixes for you to try. Here's the first one...

From Shape Magazine

Ingredients

1/4 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1 tbsp sliced almonds
1 tbsp dried cherries
1 tbsp dark chocolate chips
1 tbsp organic soy nuts

Directions

Mix honey into oats and form dime-sized clusters. Spread on a baking sheet and toast at 275° F for 5 minutes. Once cooled, toss in a sealable container with remaining ingredients.

After I found this, I googled "most healthy ingredients for trail mix", and an article from fitday.com came up. There are 5 healthy ingredients that they list:

Oatmeal ("high in fiber and has been shown to help reduce cholesterol and protect the body from heart disease." Their suggestion: "If you’re making your own trail mix, toast rolled oats in the oven on a baking sheet to cook. Flavor with a few drops of vanilla extract or a sprinkle of cinnamon.")

Dark Chocolate ("A smattering of dark chocolate chips is a great way to add a little sugar and a healthy dose of antioxidants to the mix. A little bit of the sweet stuff helps raise lowered blood sugar levels and gives the body energy it can use right away." Their suggestion: "Don't overdue it... a little goes a long way.")

Almonds ("full of heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and muscle-building protein. They are also high in vitamin E and dietary fiber. Almonds are an excellent source of energy". Their suggestion: "Stay clear of salted varieties".)

Unsweetened fruit ("Dried fruits provide vitamins and minerals." Their suggestion: "stay clear of sugar-coated, sweetened varieties... Check ingredient labels to make sure sugar is not listed.")

Seeds ("great way to add variety to your trail mix while also adding healthy fats and protein". Their suggestion: "To get a dose of heart protecting Omega 3 fatty acids, sprinkle on freshly ground flax seeds.")

So, according to the guidelines above, the recipe above was great! Try your own recipe!