Recipe

Photo courtesy of Moment For Mom

I know I am very competent, smart, and I love to cook. That’s why I never thought I would be the one trying to figure out how to eat well when my daughter was born. As much as I hate to admit it, I found myself staring at a mostly empty fridge, and grabbing chips and chocolate alternately with my one free hand. (My baby never seemed to be happy when I put her down). I know people say to make a bunch of lasagnas and freeze them. For me, that just didn’t work.

First, she was born early and I hadn’t gotten a chance to do everything I wanted.

Second, we had just moved into a new house 3 days prior (no, that wasn’t the original plan…).

Third, have you tried taking a lasagna out of the fridge, cutting it up, and heating it all while holding a baby?

Then, after all that, you will be eating that lasagna for at least 6 consecutive meals since that’s how long it takes to finish one! I learned lots of things the hard way, but if I had to do it over, I would definitely prepare lots of trail mix in advance. Let me tell you why:

• It’s really easy to make and you can customize it exactly how you like.
• You can make a lot of it at once for the same effort – and it stays fresh for weeks!
• All the ingredients can be stored in your pantry
• It’s filling, gives you energy and is good for you!
• The truth is, 3 square meals are elusive for a while and lots of a new mom’s nutrition happens on the go or at odd times. Healthy, nutritious snacks are essential!

I particularly like this recipe because the trail mix clusters a bit so it’s easy to eat even while holding a baby. Somehow hardly any of Paula Deen’s recipes make it to my repertoire, but this one is definitely an exception. I adapted her trail mix to my liking – feel free to do the same.

Here’s my version:

(Adapted from Paula Deen’s Lip Smackin’ Trail Mix recipe)

Ingredients

2 cups granola

3/4 cups coarsely chopped pecans

3/4 cups coarsely chopped walnuts

1 ½ cups sweetened flaked coconut

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (meat only)

1/2 cup wheat germ

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 cup banana chips

1 cup dried craisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

In large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients except banana chips and craisins. Mix well. Spread evenly in an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet. Bake 55 to 60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; stir in banana chips, craisins (and any other dried fruit you decide to add). Cool thoroughly. Store tightly covered at room temperature.