Now that Spring has sprung we all want to get outside and go for long walk or jump in the car for a nice long drive. Traveling can be a lot of fun, and you can avoid headaches and setbacks by planning ahead. Being on the road for a long drive (especially with kids) means preparation. So is trying to find a snack that can pass through airline security. And forgetting a snack means a hungry, cranky child (or driver.) To help you prepare for long spring drives or walks we are sharing our Top Three Trail Mix Snack Ideas. We found our ingredients in the nut and baking aisles, in the snack and candy sections and in the bulk bins at a local grocery store. Substitute ingredients and change it up to make your own personal trail mix.

#1: Trail Mix for Kids

Trail mix is also known in some places as “Gorp” and is a combination of dried fruit and nuts or seeds. Chocolate is optional, but highly encouraged. It was made to keep hikers energized, but these days it’s the perfect travel snack kids can eat with their hands. To make our first mix, we combined equal-sized handfuls of

roasted and salted peanuts
cashews
pretzels
raisins
banana chips
chocolate covered sunflower seeds
semi-sweet chocolate chips.

You can add or subtract any ingredients you want and get creative with the process. Perhaps your kids would appreciate the addition of cheese crackers, graham crackers or mini marshmallows. Feel free to add whatever you want to the mix. The kids will love it and can even help make it.

#2: Trail Mix for Adults

When we were discussing trail mix ideas in the Test Kitchen, Pat and I discovered that neither of us loves raisins, but we do enjoy a number of other dried fruits. We have added dried cranberries and other treats in a trail mix that would be equally great for hiking, traveling, or a snack at work. Just combine equal handfuls of the following, substituting ingredients based on your preferences:

raw almonds
dried mango
dried cranberries
dark chocolate chips
shelled pistachios.

We love the bright colors in this trail mix and the flavors all blend well together. Keep this in your purse in a snack-sized bag for an easy and healthy snack on the go. A few of us here will be keeping this trail mix around the office to quell late-afternoon hunger pangs.

#3: Trail Mix for Entertaining

Trail mix is not just reserved for the trails. It also makes a decadent snack to serve at parties or before a dinner party when guests are pouring the wine. Serve this in a pretty bowl so people have something to snack on, and keep your leftovers for a delicious afternoon pick-me-up. Feel free to substitute ingredients as you like, but we enjoyed this mix of