| Healthy trail mix is a great snack food alternative, | | | | you eat huge quantities of it, but you are less |
| and is something that is not only for long hikes! | | | | likely to overeat nuts and fruits than less healthy |
| The term trail mix is a loosely defined combination | | | | snacks. If you are looking for a healthy snack to |
| of dried fruits, nuts and sometimes other | | | | eat every day, you should also resist mixes that |
| ingredients. More recently it has become common | | | | have chocolate. People rationalize this by pointing |
| to include less healthy items like candy and | | | | out that chocolate is now considered healthy and |
| chocolate along with the more traditional | | | | high in antioxidants, but it's still high in sugar and |
| ingredients. | | | | calories. It's better to eat something like chocolate |
| What makes a trail mix healthy? Well, the most | | | | as an occasional treat, while sticking to more |
| common foods included are usually quite nutritious | | | | nutritious foods for your everyday snacking. |
| by nature, but sometimes other, less healthy | | | | Some high quality trail mixes now include |
| ingredients like sugar, artificial colors or flavors and | | | | "superfruits" like blueberries, goji berries and other |
| preservatives are added. The best kind of trail | | | | fruits that are exceptionally high in antioxidants. |
| mix is organic and all natural, with no added sugar. | | | | These tend to be more expensive than traditional |
| Fruits are sweet enough as they are, but in | | | | mixes that are mainly composed of raisins, |
| today's over-sugared world, some manufacturers | | | | apricots and other less costly fruits. These "extra |
| feel the need to make sweet things even | | | | healthy" trail mixes may also have sunflower |
| sweeter. The same is true for "juice drinks" that | | | | seeds, pumpkin seeds and perhaps flax seeds. |
| add sugar to already sweet fruits like apple and | | | | Peanuts, another common ingredient in more |
| orange. | | | | "ordinary" mixes are often considered one of the |
| Getting into the habit of eating healthy snacks can | | | | less healthy nuts. Peanuts are somewhat |
| make a surprising difference to your health and | | | | controversial among health food experts. They |
| weight loss goals. Of course, it's good to eat | | | | are high in calories, are likely to be heavily sprayed |
| healthy snacks even if you don't need to lose | | | | (if non-organic) and contain a less than ideal |
| weight. Many people snack on potato chips, | | | | omega-6 to omega-3 fat ratio. Some peanuts are |
| pretzels, donuts and candy bars between meals. | | | | fine, especially if they are organic, but it's ideal to |
| These are foods with little nutritional value and | | | | find a good mix of nuts that include almonds, |
| large amounts of sugar, salt and empty calories. | | | | walnuts, cashews or pecans, which are among the |
| Fruit, on the other hand, has natural sugar, while | | | | healthiest. |
| nuts are high in protein and healthy fats. So | | | | Healthy trail mix is something you can take to |
| organic dried fruit and nuts are the staples of a | | | | work or school or in transit. It's handy to have a |
| healthy trail mix. | | | | nutritious snack around that you can munch on so |
| All foods should be consumed in moderation. Even | | | | that's it less tempting to eat junk food between |
| something healthy like trail mix can be fattening if | | | | meals. |