Get in the Mix

Crunchy cashews and almonds. Crisp, earthy pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Sweet, chewy dried raisins and cranberries.

There are so many delicious reasons to love digging into a bag of trail mix. Whether you’re out in nature or just snacking at home, in the office, or even on the go, trail mix is one of the world’s most perfect treats. It’s low in sugar, packed with protein and healthy fats, and infinitely craveable.

And now, you can get this fabulous blend of dried goodies from Vital Choice. 

A tale of two trails

Although our ancestors likely began eating some combination of nuts and dried fruits centuries ago, “modern” trail mix has two different and widely cited origin stories. 

Some people attribute the discovery of this snacktime essential to an outdoor enthusiast named Horace Kephart. (He helped create the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which is kind of a big deal!) Kephart detailed his favorite combinations of nuts, raisins, and chocolate in a hugely influential hiking guide he wrote and which was published in 1910. (The manual, titled The Book of Camping and Woodcraft, was so influential, in fact, that it’s now part of the Library of Congress.)

In the competing origin story, the first “official” trail mix — and the first to be called “trail mix” — was created by a pair of California surfers who began pairing peanuts and raisins as an energy-boosting snack in the late 1960s. Their mixture gained local popularity, and a small health food company quickly trademarked the name and began selling its own version of the mix shortly thereafter. Ever heard the term GORP before? That’s another early and alternate name for trail mix as well — an acronym for “good ol’ raisins and peanuts.” 

Whichever tale you prefer, it’s important to note that there is no strict or exact definition of what constitutes “trail mix.” In general, as long as you’re eating some combination of nuts, dried fruits, and seeds — perhaps with added chocolate, grains, or cereals, or even savory pretzels or crackers — then you’re enjoying trail mix at its finest. 

The world’s healthiest snack?

We all know about the reasons we should pile our plates high with healthy proteins:They fill us up, promote muscle growth and recovery, boost energy levels, spike metabolism, help regulate blood sugar levels, and so much more. We get most of our protein from land and sea creatures, with salmon and tuna being two of the best protein sources around. But there are also plenty of great plant-based protein sources out there, including many of the tastiest nuts and seeds imaginable. Trail mix is a wonderful way to package them all together, along with some healthy fats and high fiber, nutrient-dense dried fruits.

Eat trail mix alone or paired with yogurt as an energizing way to start any day. Snack on a handful to fend off the mid-morning munchies. Pack trail mix with your lunch to perfectly complement any salad or sandwich. Grab a bag to power through your afternoon slump or as fuel for before or after a workout. Stock up on bags for when you travel as a ready source of food on the go. 

And if you’re not on the road, trail mix is still an essential. It’s a great lower-calorie, healthy snack when watching TV or even if you need a little nibble right before bed. It’s truly a versatile and all-purpose food that can be enjoyed in countless ways, day or night!

The world according to gorp

According to Kelsey Carlstrom, associate merchandise manager for Vital Choice, the Vital Choice Trail Mix line debuted this summer with two distinctive trail mix blends: the Classic Trail Mix line, which includes cranberries, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, and raisins; and the Medley Trail Mix line, which combines sunflower and pumpkin seeds, raisins, cashews, almonds, and dark chocolate chips.

“Vital Choice will always be known for the incredible seafood we provide to our customers,” she says, “but we also want to be able to provide families with high-quality, organic, sustainable foods that meet all their other mealtime needs.”

Vital Choice also recently introduced chocolates and teas.

“The goal with all our products is that consumers know they are all good for the body — and also all sustainably sourced,” Carlstrom adds. “Our trail mixes, in particular, are all vegan and gluten free, with no added salt, artificial ingredients, or hydrogenated oils. Plus, they’re organically sourced, which can be hard to find in the market and really sets them apart from many of the other trail mixes out there.”

But which blend is the best?

“I love them both,” she says with a laugh. “The cranberries and cashews in the classic mix are really incredible, but I’m a chocolate nut, so the medley gets my vote as a personal favorite.”