If you’re like most people, you find it hard to wait for your next meal, but you don’t want to blow your healthy diet. If you have a handful of this high protein trail mix, it’ll help you over the hump and stop cravings in their tracks!
Most trail mixes are unhealthy, especially if they contain dried fruit covered in oil and/or sugar (for example dried bananas, cranberries or sometimes even raisins). Trail mixes often contain sugary candy like M&M’s. That’s why making you own protein trail mix recipe puts you in charge of your health.
While nuts and seeds do contain fat, and you’ll not want to overdo it in the protein nut mix. They have also been associated with a reduced risk of major chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. (1)
Check out more delicious high-protein recipes:
- Low Fat Cinnamon Nut Granola
- Black Bean Tacos with Avocado Cream
- Edamame Dip
- Tempeh Salad Sandwich
- Hearty Lentil Kale Soup
Common questions about trail mix: Does trail mix have protein or how much protein is in trail mix?
This vegan homemade trail mix has over 5 grams of protein per serving. You can get creative with this high protein snack mix. For example, substitute any of the nuts for your favorite, such as cashews.
The basic ingredients include some kind of whole grain, in this case, whole oats, nuts and/or seeds, some dried fruit, some kind of protein, and a touch of sweetness.
The protein in this version of vegan trail mix comes from the dry-roasted edamame (or soybeans), almonds, and pumpkin seeds. Nuts are best eaten raw as they may have 30 times less glycotoxins (AGEs) than roasted.
AGEs have been implicated in the development of many chronic diseases and are present in baked and/or roasted foods. See more about AGE’s at nutritionfacts.org.
The chocolate oat clusters add a touch of sweetness, along with the freeze-dried blueberries. And, freeze dried fruit has no sugar or oil like dried fruit does. Substitute any that you like.
While it’s true that trail mix (including this one) can have more fat, I do want to emphasize portion control. Keep it to 1/4 cup per serving and for a low calorie trail mix. Give your stomach a few minutes to register it and you’ll feel those hunger pangs melt away.
I like to store this high protein trail mix recipe in mason jars. The one pictured is a small one and is also great for storing your homemade mayonnaise. Or, use small baggies to divide up the portions and take along a baggie when you out and about or at work.
I’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below for this High Protein Trail Mix! If you have a photo, post it on my Facebook page, tag me using the hashtag #plantbasedcooking in your caption, and I won’t miss it!
High Protein Trail Mix
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dry-roasted soybeans
- 1/4 cup pistachios
- 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup almonds
- 1/2 cup freeze dried berries (cherries, blueberries, strawberries)
Dark Chocolate Oat Clusters
- 1/2 cup whole oats
- 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips or substitute cacao nibs if you prefer no extra sugar or fat
Instructions
- Add the soybeans, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, almonds and freeze-dried berries to a bowl.
- Melt chocolate. The easiest way to melt chocolate is in a bowl in the microwave, stirring until melted. Or, if you prefer, on the stove in a bowl over a saucepan with heated water.
- Stir in oats and drop 1/2 inch blobs on parchment paper, place in the freezer a few minutes until solid, then add to trail mix.
- Store in a glass container until ready to use.
I have a quick question for you about the freeze-dried berries. Should they be thawed or anything like that? In my head, it just seems unusual that they’re just placed as-is in frozen form, especially the whole strawberries, which seem too large for trail mix.
Hi, Freeze-dried is different than frozen. When fruit is freeze-dried, most of the water is removed and it shrinks in size and becomes dry. There’s no need to refrigerator these. Here is an example of freeze-dried blueberries in a package.
Thanks so much!