Beauty Tips

5 On-the-Go Snack Mixes to Fuel Your Day

Step away from the vending machine. These snack mixes are easy, healthy and just what your body needs to power through the day

by Hayley Mason | COMMENT

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For Pre-Workout Energy Makes two cups. Serving size is 1/4 cup:
-1/2 cup hulled pumpkin seeds (also known as pepitas)
-1/2 cup walnuts
-1/2 cup dried apricots
-1/4 cup dried cherries
-1/4 cup sunflower seeds

"Pre-workout you want a slow-carb introduction -- something that will fuel you throughout your activity," says Nicolette Pace, registered nutritionist and founder of NutriSource, Inc., Medical Nutrition & Weight Loss Center. Healthy snack mixes let you fit in all the good vitamins and minerals you need, without weighing you down mid-workout. Dried fruit in this mix gives you quick energy, while tree nuts and seeds slow your absorption and prevent a spike (and later, a crash) in blood sugars. Dried cherries in particular are beneficial pre-workout for their anti-inflammatory powers (some arthritic medicines contain similar compounds according to Pace). Zinc-rich pumpkin seeds keep your insulin levels steady while supporting your immune system at the same time. But remember -- even if your snack fix is made up of all healthy components, if you consume it in excess, the healthy factor kind of becomes moot.

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Let's face it -- we don't always have time to whip up a healthy snack, and more often than not, we turn to the quickest, easiest and not-so-healthiest solution (read: something from the nearest vending machine). In lieu of that solution we spoke with nutritionists and dieticians Franci Cohen and Nicolette Pace, who created five easy, healthy snack mixes you can take anywhere. "Snack mixes are ideal because you get a concentration of energy and calories," says Pace, "but they don't take up much volume in your stomach so you don't bloat." So instead of reaching for a snack-size candy bar when you're crashing at your desk midday, swap it out for one of these snack mix recipes you can make in bulk and eat all week long (just don't go too crazy with portion sizes).