Kids in the Kitchen, a Trail Mix Recipe, Easy for kids
With 3 growing kids, one thing is true: they are always eating! We have worked hard for lunch times to become self-service this year. but of course by mid afternoon at least once they are asking for snacks! We are always looking for new and easy snack options, and our own home-made trail mix, easily fits the bill. For me, it’s a healthier option as well. I find myself able to reach for a cup, with nuts for protein and whole grain cereal for calories, instead of a cookie or candy bar. I may even be guilty of eating it a few mornings for breakfast with my coffee.
Our snack routine is driven by the clock. I grew tired of the snack questions beginning within an hour of lunch so we set 3:00 PM as snack time. I think it is no coincidence that 3:00 was the first time each kid recognized on the clock. They can each find an independent snack to eat. Lately it has been prepackaged granola bars or leftover holiday candy. My routine driven kids like the specific time and it’s early enough to not ruin dinner appetites.
Anyone can make it
The cost of prepackaged snacks adds up quickly so we are always looking for easy choices we can make ahead to be grab and go. Our favorite Trail mix recipe, can be a great homemade snack because it is easy to customize for your family’s tastes and not messy. We usually make it for road trips because it’s easy to scoop and eat in the car, but this year it has been a year round favorite. Our recipe is so easy that even the 8 year old can make a batch when we run out. Being a recipe everyone can make is more successful because it is less work on mom and dad and helps the kids build independence.
We have two sets of ingredients: base ingredients and mix ins. Base ingredients are added in one cup amounts. This is cereals and crackers. Choosing neutral flavors for your base is best. We bought “flavor blasted” goldfish and the extra flavor powder rubbed on to other ingredients, leading one child to not eat it. Mix-in Ingredients include the sweet or salty flavors you choose. These are the fun flavors that make your mix unique! We add the mix in flavors in 1/2 cup amounts.
Trail Mix Recipe Easy Base Ingredient Suggestions (2 parts of each)
- Goldfish Crackers
- Chex cereal
- Cheerios
- Mini crackers
Mix-In Ingredient Suggestions (1 part each)
- Sweet Cereal such as Fruit Loops
- M&Ms, chocolate chips work if you aren’t worried about them melting
- Banana Chips
- Salted Nuts including Peanuts or Cashews
- Dried Fruits or Raisins
For on the go easy snacking we bring the Trail Mix in a large bowl, with cups for each person. We can scoop out for each person as they want to eat. Last week we enjoyed some unseasonably warm weather and mixed up a batch so we could take some in a container for a hiking snack. Not everyone likes every mix in we use and will pass their leftovers to someone else who will gladly trade for their less desirable pieces. We avoid adding chocolate chips because they can melt both near the heat vents of the car in winter or the hot sun of summer. M&Ms are a better choice we found for our chocolate fix.
What ingredients would you add to your trial mix? Do you have a favorite on the go snack?
