Fuel Your Workout:
The Key To Pre-Workout Snacks

Proper pre-workout nutrition is one of the most important–and often overlooked–parts of an effective fitness regimen. By properly eating before a workout, you are providing your body with the energy and nutrients it needs in order to perform at its best leading to better results and quicker recovery. Yet, so many people overlook this step, focusing instead on post-workout shakes or recovery foods. If you want to truly maximize your workouts, your pre-workout snack could make all the difference.

Why Should I Eat Before A Workout?

Your body requires energy to perform physical tasks and receives that energy from the calories in the food you eat. Without the right kind of fuel, you may find yourself feeling sluggish, weak or even fatigued long before your workout is over. This is where your pre-workout snack becomes essential by providing your body with the necessary nutrients you need to ensure you have the endurance and power to push through even your toughest workouts.

Without enough protein, your body may begin to break down muscle tissue for energy in order to fuel your workout (especially if you are engaging in high-intensity or long-duration workouts). This could lead to decreased muscular strength and endurance gains. Having a snack with some protein ensures that your muscles have the necessary building blocks to repair and grow after the workout leading to faster recovery times.

What Makes An Ideal Pre-Workout Snack?

The goal of a pre-workout snack is to fuel your body with the energy and nutrients it needs without weighing you down or causing digestive issues. I recommend that your snack comes mainly from protein and carbohydrate sources. It’s important that your snack is light enough to avoid making you feel sluggish during your workout. I would recommend eating your snack 30-60 minutes before your workout to allow your body time to digest leading to an increased availability of nutrients during your workout.

Check out the bullets below for some quick and easy pre-workout snacks.

• • Greek Yogurt with Berries
  • Rice Cake with Peanut Butter (or any nut butter)
  • Protein Shake with ½ a Banana
  • 2 Hard Boiled Eggs with Cucumbers (or any other vegetable)
  • Whole Wheat Toast with a Poached Egg and Lightly Spread Avocado
  • Cottage Cheese with Pineapple
  • Chia Pudding with Berries
  • Apple with Peanut Butter (or any nut butter)