If you prefer just to buy trail mix, Enjoy Life Foods makes two different varieties:
1. Beach Bash – contains Raw Sunflower Kernels; Pineapple*; Roasted Hulled Pumpkin Seeds (Sunflower Oil (Sunflower Oil, Citric Acid), Salt); Cranberries*; Apricots* *Sulfite-free
2. Mountain Mambo Mix - contains Raw Sunflower Kernels; Roasted Hulled Pumpkin Seeds (Sunflower Oil (Sunflower Oil, Citric Acid), Salt); Raisins*; Dried Apples*; Chocolate Chips (Evaporated Cane Juice, Chocolate Liquor, Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter); Cranberries* *Sulfite-free
The price on Amazon is over $3 per bag (comes is a bulk unit of 6 bags) if you used the cheapest option which is through Subscribe and Save (you can always cancel later). The cheapest price locally for me is $2.99 at Kroger so it is more cost-effective to buy it in the store, but if you do not have a local store that sells this product then Amazon may be a good option.
Trail mix is a wonderful snack option, especially if you need to bulk up your child’s fat and calorie intake. That is initially the reason I turned to trail mix. Just 1oz of the Enjoy Life Trail mix offers around 8g of fat and 140 calories (80 from fat). Seeds are packed with healthy fat and calories and are an excellent replacement in a nut-free diet.
Nowadays, I skip buying the pre-made and mix it all myself. I wanted to up the fat content so making it myself game me more control over the ingredients. Here’s where I have been able to locate items free from our dairy, egg, peanut, and tree-nut allergens:
1. Hulled Sunflower Seeds – Trader Joe's sells very inexpensive sunflower seeds at around $2 per pound. They come in roasted salted and unsalted varieties. I actually contacted TJ’s when I first came across the product and at that time they confirmed their seeds were free from nut cross-contamination. That was over a year ago, so you may want to double-check.
2. Pumpkin Seeds – This has been the most challenging item, but I found them in Gerbs Pumpkin Seeds. Gerbs sells tons of varieties of pumpkin seeds. I order 3 pounds at a time (all hulled), one pound of raw, one pound of roasted and salted, and one pound of roasted and unsalted. Their website is terribly difficult to navigate, but if you can get through it, they offer an excellent product. Be sure to check their Facebook page here for a discount code, there is nearly always a 20% off code available. Whole Foods also sells small packages of some varieties of Gerbs Pumpkin Seeds. I've also noticed they can be bought through Amazon here and the prices look to be the same, except for the 20% off coupon code. (Gerbs also carries sunflower seeds, but at a much higher cost than I can get them at TJ's)
3. Dried Fruit – One of the reasons I bought a dehydrator was the difficulty I had in finding dried fruit that was not cross-contaminated, and not packed with all kinds of extra sugar. So, I make all dried fruit (except raisens) myself. If you want to learn more about dehydrating foods, click here and scroll about half-way down. Last I checked Trader Joe's carried dried apples that are not cross-contaminated. If you look at your local stores, you’ll likely find at least a few options that are free from allergens.
4. David Seeds – I have purchased the sunflower seed kernels and their whole pumpkin seeds. I have not confirmed with the manufacturer that these products are safe, but they do not carry a cross-contamination warning. Their sunflower seed kernels however, contain trans fats and are loaded with salt. They do sell whole (in-shell) pumpkin seeds though and we do purchase those.
One of the great things about trail mix is that you can make it anyway you want! If you are one to want a recipe, here is an example I had written down from one time when I made trail mix.
Makes 4 cups
1 package Enjoy Life Trail Mix
½ Cup Dried Fruit of your choice, cut to small pieces (I have used peaches, raspberries, cherries, strawberries, apples, pears, blueberries, and raisens)
¼ cup Roasted and Unsalted Sunflower Seed Kernels
¼ cup Roasted and Salted Sunflower Seed Kernels
1/4 cup Raw Pumpkin Seed Kernels
¼ cup Roasted and Unsalted Pumpkin Seed Kernels
¼ cup Roasted and Salted Pumpkin Seed Kernels
¼ cup David Whole Pumpkin Seeds
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