A 1910 Camping Guide Book Mentions A Combination Of Nuts, Raisins, And Chocolate As A Modern Trail Snack

National Trail Mix Day is observed annually on August 31st, which honors the mix developed as a healthy snack for long hikes.  Trail mix is a type of snack mix, specifically a combination of dried fruit, nuts and sometimes chocolate developed as a food to be taken along on hikes.

• 17th Century – The recipe for trail mix is most likely European in origin, where it has been known as a snack under various names in various countries since the 17th century.
• 20th Century – Andrew Leekley is often credited with popularizing the concept of ‘GORP’ (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) in the early 20th century.
• 1910s – The combination of nuts, raisins, and chocolate as a modern trail snack from the 1910s, when outdoorsman Horace Kephart recommended it in his popular camping guide.
• 1958 – Trail mix is also mentioned in Jack Kerouac’s 1958 novel The Dharma Bums, where the two main characters describe their planned meals in preparation for a hiking trip.
• 1968 – Two California surfers claim the creation of trail mix. In 1968, they blended peanuts and raisins for an energy snack.
• 1973 – A General Mills brand, Nature Valley has been producing granola bars and crunchy snacks since 1973. Their product line includes various nut and fruit blends that are popular for outdoor activities.
• 2004 – Founded in 2004 by Daniel Lubetzky, KIND is known for its snack bars and healthy granola clusters, often featuring nuts, fruits, and whole grains. They offer a variety of trail mix-like products.
• Native Americans have eaten trail mix for thousands of years and originally included buffalo meat.
• In Australia and New Zealand, they call trail mix Scroggin.
• Trail mix is also called GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts or Granola, Oats, Raisins, and Peanuts)
• According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the verb gorp means  “to eat greedily”.
• Protein – Choosing the right nuts and seeds adds healthy proteins and fats, too. Consider adding these top protein-producing seeds and nuts to your trail mix:
  • almonds, peanuts, pistachios, hemp, pepito, sunflower, flax, sesame, chia, cashews, walnuts, hazelnuts, pine nuts
• Salty & Sweet – Not only does the flavor factor increase but the salt, along with drinking plenty of water throughout your hike prevents dehydration.
• Spice – Ramp up the flavor profile with some spice. Here are a few combinations to try:
  • Fall blend – cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, ginger
  • Savory blend– garlic powder, dill, lemon pepper
  • Spicy blend – wasabi, mustard powder, lemon pepper, dried cilantro, dried lime zest
  • Spicy sweet blend – paprika, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, a touch of brown sugar
• Energy Booster – Add chocolate-covered roasted coffee beans to your mix for a twist.
• Nuts. Peanuts, almonds, cashews and pecans are all delicious nuts, but many people make their trail mix heavy on peanuts as they are usually the most inexpensive of the nuts. The nuts used in trail mix are usually roasted and salted.
• Dried Fruit. Raisins are fairly traditional for trail mix, but dried cranberries, goji fruit, cherries, bananas, papaya, pineapple, apricots and so many other delightful flavors can be combined.
• Seeds. Pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds and many others can work to add a healthful and tasty punch to that trail mix.
• Sweets. Some people like to add a little bit of sweetness to their trail mix by putting in some chocolate chips, M&M’s chocolate candies or other bite-sized candy bits. Obviously, this adds a bit of empty calories to the batch, so the more healthful mix recipes won’t include this.
•  A standard 1/4 cup (about 30g) serving can range from 120 to 180 calories, with higher calorie counts for mixes rich in nuts and chocolate. It’s an energy-dense snack, so portion control is key.

Sources:

National Day Calendar

Foodimentary

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National Today