In our last article, we covered the idea of if you should eat before or after a workout. If you are on team eating before or on team eating after or maybe you play on both teams from time to time, we are sharing what some of the best foods are to eat before and after workouts. Let’s jump in.
Best Foods to Eat Before a Workout
Initially, you might need to do some experimenting with what foods settle in your stomach well enough before a workout. See, for some, dairy isn’t the best for them to consume before a workout. So just remember to experience and have some patience if you try and new food item before a workout and things don’t quite go as planned.
Before a workout, you want to focus on foods that will give you energy. Not weigh you down. Additionally, what you eat might be determined by what goals you have.
For Weight Loss
This goal can come with a tricky balance because you want to make sure you are eating enough to give you energy but not too much to where you are essentially just burning the calories you consumed and nothing more. A complex carbohydrate with a lean protein is the best way to fuel your body.
- A banana with nut butter
- Multigrain crackers with hummus
- An apple with peanut butter or a small handful of nuts
- 1/2 cup pasta or rice
- A whole piece of fruit
- 1/2 cup oatmeal with raisins or berries
For Energy
These foods are items that your body can turn into quick energy. Think of foods that digest quickly. Simple carbs.
- Fruit smoothies
- Bananas
- Oats
- Whole grain bread with a couple of slices of lean meat
- Greek yogurt
For Lean Muscle Gain
You should aim for a light small meal made up of equal parts lean protein and carbs.
- Egg whites
- Whey protein isolate
- Fruit, including oranges, strawberries, or apples (less starchy fruits)
- Brown rice
- Wheat pasta
- Chicken or turkey
Best Foods to Eat After a Workout
During exercise, the muscles use up stored glucose and the levels become depleted. Getting the right nutritional balance after exercise restores energy levels and reduces fatigue, helping the body to repair muscles and build strength for future workouts.
Proteins, carbohydrates, and healthy fats are all essential for the body’s recovery. Plus, eating as soon as you can after a workout is also ideal.
- Protein smoothie
- Yogurt with fruit and nuts.
- Peanut butter sandwich.
- Scrambled eggs, whole-grain toast and a side of mixed fruit
- Turkey on whole-grain bread with vegetables.
- A large salad with grilled chicken and low-fat dressing alongside a whole-grain dinner roll.
When working out you want to make sure you are setting yourself up for success, which can start with what you are putting into your body. In addition to great food, we also recommend clean supplements. Our pre-workout POW enhances your mind and muscles to help you maximize your workouts. Work out hard and recover smoothly with clinically tested ingredients in doses that deliver. Then our recovery drink, RESCUE is a vegan BCAA formula that helps support muscle recovery and promote lean muscle protein synthesis for men and women. Both of these supplements are great to add to your routine.
