Eating Fabulously: a quick, healthy, and inexpensive trail mix recipe

I am a notorious snacker so its important for me to find something healthy and tasty to fulfill my snacking needs. Trail mix usually seems like a good option for those looking for a quick snack that is easy to much anytime even on the go. However most prepackaged trail mix contain a lot of excess sugars, flavorings, and many times extra oils that could be serious allergens (not to mention they always throw in one random thing you don't like so you have to spend the whole time trying to avoid the rasins, ect. ). The best way to get healthy, personalized trail mix is to make it yourself. Here is the combination I have been obsessed with as of late:

1. Start out with about a 1/2 cup of  almonds, you can use something else if you prefer but almonds are low fat, healthy, and inexpensive.



2. Add in about 1/4 cup dried cranberries, again you can substitute some other dried fruit like raisins or cherries but cranberries are extremely good for you and I really like them so thats what I chose.

3. Next add about 4 or 5 whole dried apricots, you can dice these up if you like but then they get kinda sticky.

4. Finally add about 1/8 -1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips depending on how sweet you want your trail mix to be. Milk chocolate or white chocolate could be used but I prefer semi-sweet plus it is healthier and contains more antioxidants.

5. Mix together and either eat out of the bowl while watching t.v., doing homework ect. or put into a ziplock and take with you wherever you want a quick snack.

This is just an idea of what I like to do, other fruits/nuts can be substituted depending on personal taste. I used store bought dried fruit but an even healthier way to go would be to make your own if you happen to have a dehydrator.