Healthy Holidays Part 2- Tasty Trail Mix Gifts

If you're like me and you've put some (Ok... All) of your holiday shopping off until the last minute, don't despair!  There's still time to take care of everyone on your list without breaking the bank, and you won't even have to stand in the dreaded mall lines to do it!

This idea is perfect for everyone on the list, it's great for the busy mom who doesn't have time to pack healthy lunches for the kids, for the 30-something exec who puts work ahead of well being, for the teen who has everything... And just about everyone in between.  Instead of splurging on those expensive, high-calorie holiday popcorn and sweet tins, try this-  healthy, whole food snacks, that are as tasty as they are nutritious.

All you'll need to pull this off are the following:

- A large bowl to mix the treats

- A 1/4 or 1/3 cup measurer for each recipient to create healthy portions

- Attractive packaging for your goodies, think mason jars, empty Trader Joes coffee canisters (the Winter Blend or Gingerbread coffees come in seriously cute holiday-themed designs), or spring for those air-tight plastic cereal containers available at Bed, Bath, & Beyond, Container Store, Target, etc.

OR

- If you plan to give just a small amount of mix, say a week's worth, you can pre-portion the servings and present them in colored cling wrap tied with pretty ribbon or in little baggies with holiday designs

You'll also need:

- Decorative boxes or gift bags.  I find reusable shopping bags to be a great option, they don't cost much more than fancy gift bags and they won't end up in the landfill come New Years.

- Card stock or note cards to print or write the recipe on, because of course they'll want to make more

- Last but not least, the ingredients!  Go to any natural grocer that sells items in bulk, Whole Foods or Sprouts are great for this, and make sure you get enough to make some mix for yourself!  

Keep reading for some of my favorite recipes.

Red & Green Holiday Mix- A perfect yin and yang of sweet and savory 

Dried cranberries (look for dried fruits with as little added sugar as possible)

Dried cherries

Shelled, unsalted pistachios (raw or dry roasted)

Shelled, dry roasted, unsalted pepitas aka pumpkin seeds 

Mix all four ingredients and shoot for about a 2:1 ratio of seeds:fruits... That's right, for those of you that didn't know, pistachios are actually a seed, and not a nut!  A quarter cup serving will contain under 150 calories and less than 2.5 grams of saturated fats, while containing substantial quantities of fiber, vitamin B, vitamin K, iron, and over 10 other essential vitamins and minerals!

Reindeer Munch- A fun, savory treat for kids and adults alike

Raw unsalted sunflower seeds

Roasted Inka Corn

Roasted Green Peas

Mix the ingredients in equal proportions for a healthier snack to satisfy salty cravings.  A quarter cup of this mix has about 100 calories, less than a gram of saturated fats, and almost 3 grams of fiber, as well as being a fun source of iron!  For adults, make things more interesting by substituting wasabi peas or adding a bit of cayenne powder to the mix.

Indulgent Winter Mint Mix- a wintery twist on traditional 'gorp'

Mint infused raisins (much tastier than they sound)

Cocoa roasted almonds (roasted, not glazed)

Mint candies such as mint M&Ms

Pistachios

Make sure your mix has mostly nuts, seeds, & raisins, with just a sprinkling of candies for color and sweetness.  Though this is the most indulgent mix listed, it still comes in at under 200 calories, 13 grams of sugar, and 2.25 grams saturated fat per quarter cup, while containing about 5 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. Definitely a healthier treat than Xmas cookies!

Once you've made your 'master mix,' just divide it up into your desired containers.  If you're giving out large containers of goodies, don't forget to include some baggies and a 1/4 or 1/3 cup measurer, so the recipient can portion out the snacks.  Also write out (or if your handwriting is like mine, print out) pretty recipe cards so everyone knows how to replicate the mix for next time.  If your recipient is on a diet or attempting to lose weight, you might even wish to print the calorie count per serving on the card too!  I'm also planning to give out Whole Foods or Sprouts gift cards along with the mixes, reading 'for another round of healthy treats.'

I hope you like the healthy holiday gift idea- don't forget to treat yourself, too!

Have a Healthy & Happy Weekend,

Sarah

Here are a couple of the finished products :)