A Tasty Trail Mix for Your Mid-Day Snack (and craving!)

Do you ever buy trail mixes at the grocery store? I don't. There are two reasons why; first, I'm too cheap, and second, it's hard to find one that isn't loaded with extra sugar and that I actually enjoy! For those reasons, I just buy the ingredients separately and make my own (how much easier can it get them throwing a bunch of ingredients together in a bag?!).

Every day in my lunch I pack some homemade granola to eat with my yogurt, and some type of other crunchy/sweet/salty snack. I like my snacks to have the following qualities;

• Protein (the more the better!)

• Whole grains

• Healthy fats

Here is my latest creation;

Gina's Trail Mix
(Makes 6 servings)

4 cups popcorn (I pop mine on the stove)
2 cups plain Cheerios
1 cup almonds
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup dried fruit (of any kind, preferably no sugar-added)

I don't eat a lot of dried fruit, because they contain FODMAPs, but I can handle a little at a time.  Also, almonds contain FODMAPs so you'll need to watch your intake of those, if you are following a low FODMAPs diet (or perhaps replace the almonds with walnuts).  Lately I've been eating goji berries, because Dr. Oz says they will prevent cancer and wrinkles (haha, jk). You can read more about the potential benefits of goji berries here, but to be honest I just like them because they are different from the normal raisins and craisins.

Check out the nutrition facts for a popular brand of dried goji berries (from CalorieCount.com)

Good source of fiber, and iron

Excellent source of vitamin A (Beta Carotene), and vitamin C

Almost a full cup's worth of fruit (1/2 cup dried fruit would make 1 cup)

The goji berries are the little red things. They don't taste too great on their own, but mixed in this trail mix they are pretty tasty. They are chewy and somewhat tart, but unlike cranberries they aren't normally loaded with added sugars.

Estimated Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1/6th of Trail Mix

QUESTION: What's your favorite trail mix combination? Do you eat goji berries? Any fun weekend plans? Nick and I are returning to THURMAN'S on Sunday with some friends!! I can't wait!