Athlete Food Health Mix

I have been seeing various versions of this mix in grocery stores in New York City for years. The name “Health Mix” now seems so dated (and I’m sure it hasn’t changed since the 70s!), but it’s also very appropriate for this salt-free snack so I get why it has stuck around. This mix used to appear on the snack table at every photo shoot I attended as a photo editor, next to the chocolate covered almonds, another studio staple. And yes, the chocolate went first, but there was always a good handful of healthy nuts and seeds to get through the day.

I love to make big batches, like the kind that seems never ending, but in reality lasts about 2 weeks of my various snacking needs. Whether it’s a handful here and there, or a topping for oatmeal, I always want to open the pantry and see a container of this perfect mix.

Here are some guidelines for making your own NYC Healthy Mix:

-Make sure everything is fresh. Walnuts and pepitas go bad, so taste those first.

-In this mix everything is UNsalted. When I use it as an oatmeal topping I like to at Himalayan sea salt.

-The nuts and seeds in this mix are RAW. I like that because no ingredient is too overpowering.

Here is what goes into the mix, a lot of each, depending on your preference and how much you want to make.

Sunflower seeds

Almonds

Walnuts

Peanuts (yep, some people don’t like them, but I do. And, I like that they add some weight to the mix, helping it feel more never ending!).

Dried cranberries (unsweetened)

Raisins

Pepitas

Put it into a airtight container and keep in your pantry for all the snack attacks!