3 Sweet-And-Salty Snacks To Curb Cravings

When it's done right, trail mix can be one of the healthiest on-the-go snacks. Highly portable and calorie-dense, a trail mix with assorted nuts and dried fruit is ideal for staving off hunger pangs during long hikes or busy days when it’s hard to find time to sit down for a meal. But, certain mixes might not be as healthy as you thought if you’re looking to tone up this spring. The reality is that not all trail mixes are created equal in terms of nutrition, especially ones with sweets that'll spike your blood sugar and make you crave even more sugar throughout the day.

Today, I’ve enlisted our LaurenConrad.com nutritionist Shira Lenchewski, RD to create three homemade trail mix recipes that will give you long-lasting energy. Each one is a little different and intended for a specific time of day. Take a peek below to find out how to spice up your favorite mixes.

Pre-Workout Trail Mix

Shira says that before exercising, you want to eat a combination of complex and simple carbs, like puffed buckwheat and dates. The complex carbs from the buckwheat in this mix will keep you going throughout your workout, while the fructose from the dates kicks in rapidly and gives you quick energy.

Puffed buckwheat
Dates (pitted and cubed)
Hazelnuts
Raw cacao nibs
Cinnamon

Post-Workout Trail Mix

After a workout, you want to make sure you’re eating foods that'll help repair the muscle fibers and replenish glycogen stores, which are depleted by a strenuous workout. You do this with ample protein (about 10-20 grams), combined with a carbohydrate source that the body converts quickly into energy (like goji berries). Let’s just say if you like the taste of wasabi peas, you will love this post-sweat sesh snack.

Wasabi peas
Pumpkin seeds
Unsweetened coconut flakes
Sesame seeds
Dried goji berries

Midnight Snack Trail Mix “Since you don’t want your blood sugar to spike right before bed, I’d recommend going for a slow-release carb like popcorn, with coconut oil and chia seeds,” says Shira. Chia seeds are loaded with complexion-enhancing omega fatty acids, which help us achieve that dewy skin. I would recommend buying popcorn kernels and popping them over the stove with the rosemary, orange zest, and Himalayan salt in the pan. This will make the rosemary and orange zest easier to eat. Then, use about a tablespoon of coconut oil to mix everything together.

Popcorn
Coconut oil
Orange peel zest
Chia seeds
Rosemary
Pink Himalayan salt
These three trail mixes are healthy snack choices for any time of the day. Just think about how much better you will feel after eating one of these energizing mixes than soda, chips, or candy! What healthy ingredient will you add to your trail mix?

XO Lauren

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