DIY Trail Mix Station : Bust the Boredom of School Snacks

If school snacks are starting to feel a little… stale, you’re not alone. Between packing lunches and fueling after-school hangry kids, it’s easy to fall into the same old snack rotation. That’s why I love creating a DIY Trail Mix Station at home — it’s simple, fun, and gives kids (and adults!) the freedom to mix and match their favorite ingredients.

This isn’t really a recipe so much as a snack hack — a way to keep things fresh while sneaking in a little extra protein and nutrition. Even better? Kids are way more likely to eat what they helped pick out and make. That’s why I recommend bringing them along to the store and letting them choose a few favorites within each category (nuts/seeds, dried fruit, fun add-ins). It turns snack prep into an activity instead of a chore!

[Looking for more healthy Back to School Options? Check out our Protein Project for inspiration!]

FAMILY TREE FOODIE FAVORITES

All you need are some glass jars in varying sizes (larger ones for the base ingredients like nuts and seeds, smaller ones for mix-ins like dried fruit or sweet treats), a few scoops, and either small jars or baggies for portioning. Check out my favorite jars and scoops.

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Ingredients Inspiration

One of the best parts of this setup is how customizable it is. Here are plenty of ideas to help you stock your snack station:

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How to Set Up Your Trail Mix Station

Mix, match, and enjoy! Encourage kids to build their own combos. A good rule of thumb: start with a base, add some fruit, and top with a little fun treat.

Gather your containers. Use a mix of larger jars (for base ingredients) and smaller jars (for fruits and treats). Add scoops to each for easy serving.

Shop together. Take your kids to the store and let them pick 1–2 favorites from each category. This builds excitement and guarantees they’ll eat what you set out.

Fill the jars. Set up your station on a counter, shelf, or pantry space where kids can see everything at a glance.

Add portioning tools. Keep small jars, baggies, or cups nearby so everyone can scoop their own snack mix.

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Shop Some Tools to Make Your DIY Trail Mix Bar Extra Easy + Fun!