Trail mix was originally born from an on-the-go concept, having a packaged snack that active people could literally take with them while hiking, biking and camping. Today, trail mix eating occasions have expanded, as has consumer demand for more flavor combinations, more all-natural ingredients and more unique ways for a product to stand out.
Walnuts are an all-natural, plant-based ingredient found in a multitude of mixes in today’s market. What makes them the ideal nut for the remix of a time-tested snack? They are a whole food that provides texture, nutritional value, protein and quality calories whether you’re on the go or on the couch.
Walnuts also are permissibly indulgent. Consumers crave them because they carry a premium flavor and, as an added benefit, deliver nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts are also the only nut that offers an excellent source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), the plant-based omega-3. One ounce of walnuts also offers 18 grams of total fat, 2.5 grams of monounsaturated fat and 13 grams of polyunsaturated fat.
Taking a stroll up and down grocery store aisles quickly reveals how walnuts have become a star ingredient in trail mixes. They are the perfect ingredient to add flavor, texture and nutrition to any trail mix, just like these:
Sweet & Salty Mix, Chunk Nibbles
A Sweets & Snacks Expo awards finalist, Chunk Nibbles has combined walnuts, crunchy pretzels and corn squares for a unique Sweet & Salty mix. The flavors are craveable, and the bag is made with a resealable zipper — in case you can actually put this snack down.
Keto Living Mix, Sunkist
Today’s consumer demands transparency in ingredients, and Sunkist Premium Trail Mix satisfies the demand by listing the ingredients on the front of the package. Walnuts and dried coconut are blended into a keto-friendly offering that is a great anytime snack for both adults and kids.
Canyon Mix, Good Sense
The ultimate remix: new look, same great taste. Good Sense recently launched a new package design along with a mix perfect for active consumers. Canyon Mix combines walnuts with yogurt-covered raisins and pineapple. An added all-natural ingredient bonus — this product is made with honey.
Antiox-C Cinnamon Oat & Yogurt Trail Mix, Snak Club
This product provides over 100% of the daily value of vitamin C, thanks to cranberries, cinnamon oat granola and yogurt chips. Mix in walnuts, and you have 3 ounces of a snack perfect as a topper for yogurt, a midday snack or stirred into a fruit salad.
Mediterranean Raw Trail Mix, Otto Nuts
The Mediterranean diet emphasizes nuts, fruits, grains and vegetables, and a Mediterranean diet including tree nuts, primarily walnuts, was associated with a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death) and, specifically, a 46% lower risk of stroke, when compared to a low-fat diet. This Mediterranean mix combines walnuts and dried fruits — white mulberries and sultana raisins — with no added salt.
Ready to remix your trail mix or stir up a new offering for consumers? Visit our Food Professionals website for trail mix inspiration.
