A question personal trainers hear a lot is: “What food is best to eat before a workout to keep my energy levels up?” It’s a great question, as some foods can help, while others harm in trying to ensure you not only make it through a long workout, but a long day as well. Here are some of our personal favorite high energy foods – try eating them 30 minutes before your next workout!
Though it may sound counterintuitive, carbs are your best friends before every workout. The key is to have a mixed bag of complex and simple ones so that the release of energy during your workout is slow and steady throughout your routine. We suggest you keep the calorie count to a max of 250. If you are not used to eating before exercise, a good rule of thumb is to eat about 30-40 minutes before. Eating too close to your workout time could cause nausea – which could throw your entire workout routine off!
Toast
A super simple pre-workout meal could be whole-wheat toast with fruit. This meal/snack gives you both types of carbs with the bonus of being super easy to digest. Complex carbs will keep your motor humming, while the fruit adds an extra kick of energy. If you’re hitting the gym later in the day, top with turkey instead.
Macros – Calories: 89 / Carbohydrates: 16 grams / Protein: 3.7 grams
Bananas
You also want to think about what type of activity you’ll be doing. Are you training for a Jersey Shore 5K or Half Marathon? If so, bananas are perfect in raising potassium levels, which drop when you sweat a lot. You can even do bananas and toast together (see above)!
Macros – Calories: 105 / Carbohydrates: 27 grams / Protein: 1.3 grams
Oatmeal
As previously mentioned, getting that essential carbohydrate:protein ratio is vital to maximizing muscle repair and overall recovery.
A great option? One of our favorite pre-workout choices is protein-packed oatmeal. Oatmeal sticks with you (no pun intended!) throughout your workout by slowly releasing sugar back into the bloodstream. Adding a banana to this bad boy will also help to increase the fluid content of your pre-workout snack, keeping you hydrated throughout your gym session.
Macros (1 cup) – Calories: 166 / Carbohydrates: 28 grams / Protein: 5.9 grams
Fruit and Cottage Cheese
Don’t fear the fruit – they’re easily digestible so you’ll need them to help get a quick boost of energy, while the cottage cheese provides protein. That protein is essential for creating fuel for your muscles (and helps you burn more calories).
By now, you’re probably curious – are there high energy foods to eat after the workout to boost recovery time? Yup!
Macros (4 ounces) – Calories: 110 / Carbohydrates: 5.2 grams / Protein: 12 grams
Eggs
Eggs are rich in high-quality protein and contain a vast array of vitamins and nutrients. Protein improves workout performance as well as increases muscle growth, recovery, and body composition.Switch your eggs up from the usual scramble and make a veggie-packed omelet. Garnish with a few slices of avocado for fiber and monosaturated fats (the good kind!).
Macros (2 eggs) – Calories: 126 / Carbohydrates: .6 grams / Protein: 11 grams
White Rice
You may be saying, “Don’t you mean brown rice?” Well, simply put, no. White rice is another great pre-workout food because it’s loaded with easily-digestible carbohydrates, and arguably just as healthy as brown rice. Mmm-mmm!
Macros (1 cup) – Calories: 205 / Carbohydrates: 45 grams / Protein: 4.3 grams
We really recommend real food opposed to a protein supplement because the digestion of actual food will burn more calories than the digestion of a protein supplement. However, a protein shake is better than nothing and will still provide the nutrients you need in a convenient package that some say will absorb into your body faster. Try making your own shake so you get the best of both worlds – knowing what food you’re having AND extra protein.
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