If you plan on heading to the gym soon after lunch or dinner, then it's best to avoid rich flavorful foods. Foods that are too flavorsome may cause stomach upset or heartburn, making your workout tougher to get through. Instead, try indulging in a bowl of brown rice. Eaten alone or paired with a protein like chicken, brown rice is a great meal to enjoy before a workout. When lightly seasoned, it's a pleasant meal that won't upset your stomach. Plus, it's rich in complex carbs and protein, which help to provide your body with the energy it needs to power through your workouts.
Because brown rice can take a while to cook thoroughly, we recommend including it as a part of your weekly meal prep. Keeping pre-made brown rice on hand will help you spend less time in the kitchen and allow you more time at the gym.
Are you planning a morning workout? Brown rice can be eaten for breakfast too! For a delicious and wholesome breakfast, try this Apple Cinnamon Walnut Brown Rice Farina. It has a pleasing nutty flavor, is simple to throw together and takes less than 15 minutes to prepare. This breakfast is a great stamina-enhancing meal to eat before heading to the gym.
One of the best pre-workout snacks, eggs are packed with essential amino acids and vitamins that help supply the body with the energy it needs for physical activity. Low in calories and high in nutrients, they're a snack that can be enjoyed without off-setting your healthy diet and hard work. Sunnyside up, scrambled or soft boiled, the fat-burning nutrients in eggs work to support muscle growth and recovery. Being that eggs are extremely versatile, you can eat them plain or add them to other stamina-increasing foods like brown rice. Because they're hard to digest, we recommend steering clear of hard-boiled eggs before a workout as it may cause an upset stomach.
For a healthy pre-workout egg recipe, try these Gluten Free Chorizo Egg and Sausage Biscuits. Easy to make ahead of time, they're a great grab-and-go snack to be enjoyed before your workout. Keep them in your fridge, pack them as a lunch or make a large batch and freeze them to ensure that you'll always have a healthy, energizing snack when you need it most.
Fish is a lean protein thats an ideal food to enjoy before working out, which is why it's commonly listed as an essential food source in a healthy diet. Not only is fish great for you, but it tastes great as well! When properly cooked, fish is tender and full of flavor. The variety of different types of fish can often leave you wondering which type is best to eat. While this varies based on your personal preferences, we recommend choosing a fresh fish that is sustainably caught, as these fish are likely to have the most refreshing flavor. Whether you decide to season your fish and eat as is or you add it to a meal as an additional source of protein, fish is incredibly healthy for you, whether you're working out or not.
If you want to enjoy a lighter meal before your gym session, then try this Coconut Crusted Mmahi-Mmahi. Bob's Red Mill Coconut Flour and natural coconut flakes are used to create a delicious crust that's grain-free and delicious. Whether you enjoy it as a lunch or dinner, this recipe is a great way to up your daily intake of healthy fats and nutrients.
Who doesn't love peanut butter? Use it as a sandwich spread, turn it into energy bites or even enjoy it as a dip for fresh apples. The various ways you can enjoy peanut butter are endless! Peanut butter's high protein content makes it a great treat to enjoy before working out. If you are about to work out and don't have time for a full meal, then enjoying a small healthy snack of peanut butter is a great way to make sure you sustain your energy throughout the entire workout. Peanut butter supplies a great serving of carbs and protein. The carbs work to help provide your body with energy and the protein can help promote muscle growth.
There are a variety of fun ways to incorporate peanut butter into your snack rotation. If you're craving a sweet on-the-go treat, then try out these Peanut Butter Protein Cookies. Chewy on the inside and crispy on the outside, these cookies are the perfect pre-workout snack for any day of the week.
Smoothies are one of the best ways to pack a lot of nutrients into a small package. Depending on what ingredients are added, smoothies can be customized to your taste preferences and nutritional needs. A quick treat to make for breakfast, lunch or dinner, they're the perfect meal to indulge in before hitting the gym. When making your ideal workout smoothie, it's essential to think of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. Fresh, vitamin-rich veggies like spinach and kale can be added to smoothies as a nutritional boost without changing the flavor drastically. On the contrary, adding a sweet fruit like a banana to a smoothie can sweeten up the taste and amp up the potassium content. When thinking about your next smoothie, take time to plan out the ideal ingredients to help you reach your goals.
At a loss when it comes to planning out your next protein smoothie? Refer to these Vanilla Protein Powder Smoothie ideas when you're in a smoothie slump and need a quick, creative boost. All of these smoothies use our Vanilla Protein Powder Nutritional Booster to help you get your protein, fiber and probiotics all in one smoothie. Made from pea protein, it's a gluten free and vegan protein source, packed full of additional nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and iron.
It is no surprise that oatmeal is an all-around superfood. Since oats are easy on the stomach, a hearty bowl of oatmeal makes for a great pre-workout meal. Mixing oats with fruit or a scoop of protein powder will give you both short and long term energy that will help you power through your gym time with energy to spare.
Oatmeal is also incredibly versatile. Prepare it as a sweet dish topped with berries, or choose a more hearty recipe like this Savory Oatmeal With Chicken and Spinach. Adding veggies to this oatmeal can quickly turn it into a filling dinner dish packed with protein and antioxidants.
Now that you're aware of these tasty foods that increase stamina and energy, it's time to incorporate them into your diet. Remember, you don't have to include all these foods at once. Try adding one or two of them to your pre-workout diet and see if you notice a difference. If it works for you, then start to make these foods a part of your weekly menu to reap the benefits. There are various healthy, energy-boosting foods out there that you can swap in for any of these. The important thing is to look for foods that are high in vitamins and nutrients and can help create sustainable energy to get you through even the hardest of workouts.
Have a pre-workout snack or food of your own? We'd love to hear what it is. Let us know your favorite foods to eat before a workout and how they help you power through your gym session in the comment below.
