4 Energizing Trail Mix Recipes For On The Go

Trailblazers have long relied on trail mix for its simple yet energy-dense qualities. The following gussied-up versions from Canadian dietitian Matthew Kadey’s latest recipe book, “Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Foods for Sports + Adventure,” prove that trail mix doesn’t have to be restricted to just peanuts and raisins. “Items like trail mix are cherished by the outdoor crowd, so my goal was to give it some new spins,” says Kadey, whose book provides more than 80 simple and quick homemade fuel recipes for the everyday athlete.

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Dairy-free, Gluten-free, Vegan or Vegetarian

Servings: 8
Active time: 10 min.

Bulk bins are a great place to locate items such as dried fruit and nuts in just the right portions you need for making trail mix.

Cherry Haze

•   2 cups brown rice crisps or puffs
•   ½ cup halved hazelnuts
•   ½ cup pecans
•   ½ cup dried cherries
•   ½ cup dried blueberries
•   ½ cup dark chocolate chips
•   1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
•   ¼ cup raw shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

Tropical Twister

•   4 cups plain popcorn
•   ½ cup chopped dried mango
•   ½ cup chopped dried pineapple
•   ½ cup unsalted shelled pistachios
•   ½ cup roughly chopped unsalted dry-roasted cashews
•   1/3 cup unsweetened flaked coconut
•   ¼ cup wasabi peas
•   2 nori sheets, torn into small pieces

Crunchy Apple

•   2 ounces sweet potato chips, roughly broken apart (about 1 cup)
•   1½–2 ounces plain or cinnamon apple chips, roughly broken (about ¾ cup)
•   1 cup roughly chopped walnuts
•   ¾ cup dried cranberries
•   1/3 cup raw shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
•   ¼ cup cacao nibs

Gourmet Pizza

•   2–3 ounces herb crackers, broken into ½-inch pieces*
•   2–3 ounces pepperoni or other cured meat such as jerky, chopped
•   2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about ½ cup)
•   ½ cup unsalted roasted almonds
•   ½ cup sliced dried figs
•   ½ cup thinly sliced sun-dried tomatoes (not oil packed)
•   ¼ cup raw shelled pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
  *Add crackers no more than 2 days before serving to keep them crisp.

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Do it yourself!

Place all of the ingredients for each trail mix combination in a large bowl and toss to combine. Divide mixture among zip-top bags for transport. Mixes can be made up to three days in advance and kept in the refrigerator for longer-lasting freshness.

Recipes republished with permission from “Rocket Fuel” by Matt Kadey, RD. Learn more at Velopress.com/rocketfuel.

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