Child-Friendly Trail Mix Satisfies Salty and Sweet Cravings

Trail mix is great. It's an incredibly versatile snack that you can create with different ingredients to achieve the perfect mix of salty and sweet. Another great plus: Trail mix is an easy dish your children can help make.

One of the things I had the most fun doing in fourth grade was making trail mix as part of our study of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Alaska. Believe it or not, trail mix (which we referred to as GORP, or "good old raisins and peanuts") was an integral part of our study. According to the book I made on the race in fourth grade, GORP was the staple food for racers. It didn't freeze, it was easy to pack and carry, and it provided a healthful dose of energy as the teams raced across Alaska.

To make my trail mix, you will need the following:

if there's an ingredient you don't like, you can leave it out or add something you do enjoy:

• 1 c. wheat Chex
• 1 c. multigrain Cheerios
• 1 c. reduced-fat Triscuits, broken
• 1 c. yogurt-covered pretzels
• 1/2 c. blanched almonds
• 1/2 c. dried apples, chopped
• 1/2 c. dried banana chips
• 1/2 c. dried cherries
• 1/2 c. salted cashews
• 1/2 c. dark chocolate M&M's
• 1/3 c. of finely shredded unsweetened coconut
• 1/3 c. sunflower kernels
• 1/3 c. salted pumpkin seeds

Place ingredients in a large bowl and mix together until well-blended. This recipes yields two quarts of trail mix that can be stored in an airtight container. If there's an ingredient you don't like, leave it out, and feel free to add things you do like. Enjoy!

For step-by-step instructions, scroll through the attached photo gallery