Over the Memorial Day weekend, we made our way to New Hampshire to do some RV camping and some Motocross Racing. I’m very much in the RVing-camping-summer unofficially-starting-mood and my husband is always very much in the Motocross-Racing-Mood. So we rented an RV and I prepared with healthy meals and filling snacks. I wanted to make sure we had plenty of healthy options rather than being subjected to junk food crap choices easily found and reluctantly consumed while on road trips. I have to say, I think my nutrition plan for the weekend helped the motocross athletes on the trip; my husband finished FIRST in his race!!! And my son did great, not falling once, able to make his way around the track for the numerous loops necessary and feeling good all day in the 90 degree heat!
I call this SAP Maple Flax Fuel. It’s a naturally sweet healthy energy snack helping to refuel you with nutritious seeds like Sunflower, Pumpkin and Flax along with the awesome Almond, baked together with a touch of Pure Maple Syrup.
It’s a trail mix of sorts, but there’s no M&M’s or “candy-coated chocolate” in this trail mix. To some perhaps that might be a disappointment, but I’m telling you this “trail mix” is a crowd pleaser.
The top of Aurora Natural Sunflower seed container is where I found the idea to call it “Fuel” as Nuts and Seeds are the perfect energy boost for an active healthy lifestyle. Everything in this recipe is healthy, it fills you up and as it’s lightly coated and then roasted with 100% Pure Maple Syrup, you have a sweet superfood snack featuring healthy fats, protein, vitamins and minerals.
Just as I mentioned above, the SAP in the name stands for Sunflower seeds, Almonds, and Pumpkin seeds, while the Maple is the pure Maple Syrup, from Vermont and the Flax, self-explanatory, the Flax seeds. In a past blog post from wintertime titled Snow Day Power Pancakes I mention that Maple Syrup in it’s true natural form is full of vitamins. minerals and antioxidants. No need to use fake, maple-flavored sugar syrup, go for the real stuff. I don’t like fake. I love REAL!
It’s an easy to do recipe; simply add all the ingredients together and bake at 400F for about 12 minutes. Combining all your seeds in a large bowl, planting some healthy goodness; Sunflower, Pumpkin and Flax seeds, I use about a half a cup to a cup each. Sunflower Seeds are full of vitamins, are anti-inflammatory and help boost immunity.
The Almonds. Raw almonds, about 1 1/2 cups.
Almonds are a super healthy snack!
And Pumpkin Seeds are incredible in their health benefits; alkaline-forming and antiviral while also packed with protein. Hulled Pepitas are what you’re looking for when buying. The insides of the actual seed, with the hull or shell removed.
Lastly the Flax Seeds are a contribution I love as they provide some great plant omega-3s, are an anti-inflammatory and help increasing metabolism! Look at the great health benefits from the infographic found via Pinterest.
In a bowl, add about a tbsp of pure Maple Syrup over all your seeds and almonds and stir, allowing to coat nicely.
Once coated nicely, place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, spread out evenly and bake at 400F for about 12 minutes. Use parchment paper and not foil, as the nuts will stick to the foil. I used to feel the almonds, being whole, take a bit longer than the seeds to roast and would I put them in first, however they began to take on a burnt taste. It’s best to just combine everything together.
Bake at 400F for about 12 minutes.
Finished you can place in a nice container and take with you on the road. Or just have in the pantry ready to be snacked on when you’re needing to refuel with sweet protein and vitamin packed Maple Flax SAP.
You can also add some of the other kinds of seeds you see in the graphic below courtesy of bodyunburdened.com, such as Chai, Sesame or Hemp.
I enjoy it just as it is or I add it to some oatmeal.
Kali loves it too!
And this fuel helped this handsome man finish FIRST out of 20-some racers!!! Not an easy task, SO PROUD!!!
| Prep Time | 5 minutes |
| Cook Time | 12 minutes |
| Servings |
people
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- 1.5 cups almonds raw
- 1 cup pumpkin seeds hulled pepitas
- 1/2 - 1 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 - 1 cup flax seeds
- 1 - 1.5 tbsp pure maple syrup enough to coat but not too much
Ingredients
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- Preheat oven to 400 F
- Pour all seeds and almonds into large bowl. Pour maple syrup over and stir to coat nicely. Depending on amount of seeds and almonds you use, you may need less than a tbsp or more.
- spread out onto a parchment paper covered baking sheet
- bake at 400F for about 12 minutes. If need to keep in for a touch longer, try not to bake longer than 15 minutes, or the flavor will take on a burnt taste
- Remove, let sit and cool then break into pieces to enjoy! Some of it will crumble while some will break apart in larger sections.