We love almonds and pretty much anything made with almonds—and there are a lot of those foods nowadays. So if we welcome almonds in our milk, butter, creamer, and more, of course, we also welcome them in our trail mix.
We like banana chips by themselves—as well as plain ol’ bananas (or in a smoothie!)—so we enjoy them in our trail mix, too.
Cashews are also tasty (especially with a bit of salt) and have some health benefits, as they contain healthy fats and essential vitamins and minerals, as well as 5 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber in every ounce.
“Dried cherries” is a bit of a misnomer because even in dried form, cherries burst with juicy tartness. They’re like fruit snacks, but with less added sugar, no artificial dyes, and, you know, they’re actually fruit.
Sure, many of the Chex pieces will get crushed to bits, but the ones that stay intact are so satisfying to crunch into and tasty, too.
Some people like coconut, some don’t. If you’re in the former camp—like us—you’re going to want to add coconut to your next trail mix.
If you’re not a raisin fan (we are; more on that later), you might still be down with dried cranberries. They’re about the same size and consistency of a raisin but with added tartness along with the sweetness.
This one’s a given in any trail mix we buy or make. Since we associate trail mixes with physical activity, this calorie-dense and nutrient-packed food—which is generally high in protein and fiber.
Pecans are a perfectly balanced nut: They have a not-too-hard, not-too-soft texture, and they’re just a little bit sweet.