Foods You Should Eat Before a Workout

Whole Wheat Bread with Banana Slices

Carbohydrates are essential energy sources, especially if you are preparing for a workout session. Ideally, you should be mixing up your carbs so that you get enough of both quick and slow burning energy. In this case, the banana will provide the quick boost and the potassium needed for excessive workout while the whole wheat bread will digest easily but slowly release energy to keep you going in the long run.

Greek Yogurt with Trail Mix

Yogurt is not only easy on your stomach, which is a good thing if you are going for a run, but also has essential proteins. A trail mix of nuts and dried fruits (not the chocolates) can also be excellent for boosting your energy levels. Moreover, since nuts are natural fats, they aren’t digested very quickly and give you slow-burning energy that lasts longer. However, be mindful of how much you eat if you don’t want to feel sick during your run.

Smoothie

If you are short on time and are rushing to the gym for a workout you can quickly blend some ingredients together for a nutritious smoothie.  The easiest way to go about making a smoothie is to take your favorite fruit and cut it up into slices. Depending on your preference, you can either go with yogurt or milk with some granola to make it all smooth and thick. Don’t make the mistake of adding too much to the smoothie, otherwise it will be excessive, both in terms of protein and heavy on your stomach. The last thing you want is throwing up while pumping iron at the gym.

Oatmeal and Fruit

Oatmeal is one of the healthiest foods you can take, be it any time of the day. It burns really slow and gives you enough energy to last a long workout session. As opposed to quick burning energy sources, oatmeal also keeps you feeling full, which means you will be less likely to binge after a hard session. The addition of fruits is also beneficial, providing you natural water and helping you stay hydrated without having to drink too much.

Apple slices with almond butter

While chocolates and other sugary desserts are attractive, especially when you think you are going to burn them off anyways, nothing beats apples if you really want to see results. An apple will keep you going throughout the workout and then some, alongside providing essential minerals and antioxidants. If you are concerned about feeling hungry later on, you can use almond butter and spread it over the slices before eating them.