Trail Mix Not Trailing in Calories

Photo Credit: www.somethingville.com

It takes the perfect combination of ingredients to make your mouth water. We all have our favorite kinds of trail mix.  Mine happens to be the one made with m&m's, cashews, and dried berries.  What we most likely aren't aware of is that this perfect combination comes with a price: calories.  The thing is, this is one food that I don't even think to look at the label before indulging.

The prepackaged trail mix we buy isn't just filled with the obvious ingredients (peanuts, dried fruit, candy, etc.), but it is also filled with sugar, salt, and preservatives.  That sweet but tangy flavor has to come from somewhere.  The combination of a large amount of sugar mixed with a large amount of salt is what has most of us coming back for more, without even being aware.

Most trail mixes have a shelf life of up to a year. Preservatives alert! There is only one way to avoid all of the extra ingredients in trail mix: make your own.  Next time you're in the grocery store, look at your favorite trail mix.  Find all of the ingredients sold separately, and mix them yourself! You're looking at a much healthier choice, and a simple alternative. Take initiative and save yourself the unnecessary extra calories.

Make sweet choices--in food and in life.