We all know it’s easier to eat well at home but harder when we are traveling. Sometimes it has to do with access to food, but more often it has to do with convenience. Over the last few years, it has been good to see more and more places offering healthier options to travelers. You can find fresh produce and organic food at some of the smallest places, as well as access to free water to fill up your water bottles.
I tend to want to snack more when away from home and not have to deal with the hassle of preparing full meals. Packing my own means I am not tempted to pick up less healthy choices when a craving strikes! My strategy involves selecting from different food/nutrient groups (fruit/veggies/meat, as well as carb/protein/fat) and flavors (sweet, salty, spicy, and tangy) so I can always find something to satisfy. This same plan works well for my trail food, too. When I have a variety of options, even if I’m not hungry, I can find something to eat from the assortment I have packed.
This was a new recipe I made up for our Spring Break road trip this month to cover protein and salty (with a little sweet) that was not only a hit with me but I found I should have made extra for sharing, too!
#wholepecans #driedcranberries #coconut oil #seasalt #powderedgarlic #freshgroundpepper #groundrosemary
The recipe actually started out with a cooking emergency. Do you have memories of your mom starting to bake something and realizing part way through that she was missing an ingredient so she sent you next door to ask for it with a measuring cup in your hand? Ah, the good ‘ol days when you could count on your neighbor having a pantry like you do.
Anyway, I got the idea for these and then realized I had tossed the last of my rosemary out during my Lenten purge in March because it was old. Oops. And it was still Lent so I couldn’t run to the store for more!
I don’t have a neighbor I can count on but I do have my mom. Good ‘ol Mom. Who lives eight blocks from me. And who, despite the weather that night, brought me over dried rosemary (she grows her own). Love you, Mom!
You can grind whole rosemary like I did, or just buy it ground already. By grinding it when you need it, the flavor is so much more robust.
Melt the coconut oil first in a small dish in the microwave or toaster oven (like I do). Meanwhile, add the rest of the ingredients to a large bowl. Add the melted oil to the dry ingredients and stir until the nuts are well covered with the oil and spices.
Lay the nuts out in a single layer on a parchment (or silpat) lined baking sheet and bake in the oven at 300 degrees for ten minutes. Stir the nuts and then bake for another ten minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool. If not eating right away, store in an airtight container. You might want to keep a secret stash for yourself, these will go fast!
For other ideas of snacks to take on your next adventure, check out my page Day Hiking Paleo! Here are some other snack mixes you might enjoy:
Keto Veggie Seasoned Walnut Mushroom Trail Mix
Rosemary Cranberry Pecans
The taste of a festive holiday dinner wrapped up into one wholesome snack!
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
20 minutes
Total Time
25 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Gluten Free, Nightshade Free, No Dehydrator Needed, Paleo, Soy free, Vegan
Servings: 12 1/2 cup servings
Ingredients
- 5 cups pecans
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon ground rosemary (2 tablespoons whole)
Instructions
- Melt the coconut oil in a small dish. Put the rest of the ingredients into a large bowl.
- Add the melted oil and mix all the ingredients together until all the pecans are well coated with oil and spice.
- Lay out in a single layer on a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees for ten minutes.
- Stir the nut mixture to redistribute the spices and then bake for another ten minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool. Store in an airtight container.
Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!
If you need some healthy eating inspiration start here:..
Need some eating out suggestions when friends want to stop after a hike? I have a Pacific Northwest Eating Guide here.
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