Background: I have loved chex party mix since I was a little kid. Since the recipe though is a ruse to buy a ton of cereal, I have rarely had it as an adult.

Today I decided to make some but checking the calorie content of various cereals was disheartening. Then I reached the end of the aisle and the Kashi section. When I saw the calorie count and complete lack of additives, I knew I had to try it. Plus, the recipe calls for 12 cups of cereal, pretzels and bagel bits and the Kashi box held 11 cups. Close enough and I got the sliced almonds from the baking aisle.

I cannot express how good this turned out. If you know what chex party mix is like, then how you imagine this version tastes will be spot on.

The almonds add 546 calories per cup but they also provide 46% dietary fiber and 20 grams of protean so I guess that balances it out somewhat.

Good point, although those calories would also be in the original recipe. Too, the oil in almonds is the good fat. One could probably get away with 3 tablespoons of canola oil instead of the butter.

At least I have proof of concept. I can improve factors in future versions, perhaps substituting curry for the seasoned salt. Additional ideas are welcome.

"perhaps substituting curry for the seasoned salt" That sounds like it's worth a try.

My problem is that butter is an integral part of chex mix, and leaving that out just would NOT do. :-)

I love the Texas Trash version of Chex mix and am about to make the first bunch we've had in 10 years. It's not low-fat, but I believe in infrequent indulgences taken all the way.

I love this thing I heard once: how you eat between Thanksgiving and New Year's is a lot less important than what you eat between New Year's and Thanksgiving.

This almond/Kashi thing sounds good, though - especially a good food gift to people watching their diet for medical reasons. The Kashi products are so amazingly good and healthy. I wish I'd bought stock in them when they were a tiny hippie cereal company.

My trouble has been finding a low-cal high-bulk snack to fill in between meals. Fruit and raw veggies alone don't cut it because afterwards I'm still craving and can't concentrate. I need my saltycrunchy.

1/2 cup of this stuff makes a satisfying snack albeit with a diet soda. Usually for me, 1/2 cup of anything is just beginning. A full cup with a celery stalk could make a decent lunch. It would be really good as a salad topper.