Barracks Living At It's Finest: Trail Mix

Your arsenal against hunger.

This is the first post a new segment that I am doing.  It's aimed at anyone living in the barracks (or dorm room) and provides some helpful tips on how to make life just a little bit better.

Being in the barracks (or dorm) you are really restricted on your options to eat.  You have:

1.  The chow hall.  This is the obvious choice since you're already throwing away $300 each month towards your meal card.  You are stuck on what you want for the most part with very little variety from day to day.  Not to mention that it isn't always the healthiest choice.  Case in point, a regular, grilled chicken breast.  It tastes like it was brine'd in salt water overnight.

2.  Fast food/restaurants.  A tastier, albeit more expensive route.  If your like most Marines, you probably spend a pretty penny every pay period getting some hot meals that you otherwise wouldn't easily have.

3.  Microwave dinners.  Another popular favorite among barracks Marines.  Who doesn't love going to the Commissary and picking up a weeks worth of Hungry Man Dinners and Hot Pockets.

There's one thing missing.  You can make your own damn food!  "But how?" you say.  It can't possibly be true because you haven't thought of it.  Sure, you may have gotten ballsy and picked up a George Forman and started cooking some steaks; but as soon as the smoke alarm went off and the hours of cleaning the damned thing had set in, you were done.  No more cooking for yourself.

BUT IT'S POSSIBLE!  One of my favorite things to make is also one of the most simple.  Trail Mix.  it's fast, it's easy, it's delicious.  I make mine based off of Target's Monster Trail Mix.  Here are my ingredients:

Sun-Maid Raisins
Ghiradelli 60% Cacao Baking Chips
Reeses Peanut Butter Chips
Almonds
Lightly Salted Peanuts

I take a handful of each ingredient and put them in a sandwich baggie, seal tight, and then shake until they jumble all together.  The end product is a delicious and nutritious snack you can take on the go.  It's good for in between meals or it can be a pre-workout snack so that your body gets protein and carbs before some heavy lifting, although I'd add some more nuts and less sweets if going that route.  The greatest thing about it is that it is entirely customizable!  You can add whatever foods you love to enjoy whenever you want.

You may have noted that I have everything in a sandwich baggie.  What I do is buy in bulk, seal it up, and stash in the freezer.  You can keep fruit, vegetables, candy, whatever you want in a freezer for months and it will keep.  I highly suggest this as it is very cost efficient and will save you trips to the store.  I highly suggest you military personnel to shop at the Commissary.  You'll save a brick-ton and help support local farmers all in the same visit.

Well that's about it this time.  Be sure to follow my facebook and twitter and to check out my fitness challenge to see how I'm doing.  Happy snacking!