trail mix

today, august 31st is national trail mix day. who knew? quick explanation: trail mix is a combination of dried fruits, grains, raisins, nuts and sometimes chocolate (like m&m's), a snack food commonly taken along on outdoor hikes.

so what's so great about it? first of all, it's delicious, lightweight, easy-to-store, and nutritious. and with a good nutritional mix, such as the carbohydrates in the fruit and the protein and fats from the nuts, it provides a good quick energy boost.

it's a great item to add to your stash at home, and also for your 72-hour kits. you can buy it pre-made at any grocery store, or google it and you'll find all kinds of variations on recipes for making it yourself at home.

but a quick warning, it's not really appropriate for long-term storage as it will go bad, so use it in your regular rotation. and if it's in your 72-hour kits, don't forget to switch out the food every 6-12 months (many use the idea of rotating every general conference, which is just around the corner).