ActiveWorkouts5 best pre-workout meals for better performance and faster recoveryFrom apple with peanut butter to oats and egg, here are the best pre-workout meals you should eatWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
ActiveWorkouts5 best pre-workout meals for better performance and faster recoveryFrom apple with peanut butter to oats and egg, here are the best pre-workout meals you should eatWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
From apple with peanut butter to oats and egg, here are the best pre-workout meals you should eat
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jump to category:Best pre-workout meals
Jump to category:Best pre-workout meals
At first, it might seem a good idea to exercise with an empty stomach, especially if you’re planning onlosing weight. And although it’s okay to work out on an empty stomach, you get more out of your sessions if you consume the correct pre-workout meals as these will helpboost metabolism(better for weight loss) and help you recover faster, enabling you to work out more often and with higher intensity.
What is a good post-workout meal? Is it a good idea to chow down on a big roast dinner before you hit the gym? “It’s important to never exercise after a big meal as your body is trying to digest food, and this could result in nausea”, says Joanna Dase, fitness expert atCurves. She recommends having a smaller meal an hour before your workout as it leaves enough time for your body to digest the food and release energy from it.
If you want to keep onbuilding muscleand exercise to your full potential, it’s recommended to choose the foods listed below.
Best pre-workout meals
(Image credit: Puriton)
(Image credit: Puriton)
1. Yogurt with fruit
As Joanna explains, “Having yoghurt and fruit pre-workout will send digesting carbs to your muscles for energy. Fat-free plain Greek yoghurt is packed with protein and will fill you up without leaving you feeling heavy.” If you find the taste too tart, fruit like blueberries will give the snack a sweet finish. Always stick to plain yoghurt to reduce adding extra sugars from flavoured options.
2. Apple with peanut butter
This combination is the perfect way to fix your sweet and savoury cravings. “Chop ½ anappleup and dip into ½ tablespoon of reduced-fat (or full-fat if you’re a hard-gainer) peanut butter”, Joanna recommends, “The apple is your source of glucose and carbohydrates, and the peanut butter brings in protein and healthy fats.”
(Image credit: Centr)
(Image credit: Centr)
3. A fruit smoothie
A smoothie is a quick yet perfect snack before exercise. They provide the body with the two most critical pre-workout macronutrients: carbohydrates and protein. “Pack yours full of nuts, yoghurt, and soy milk to help contribute to muscle growth”, Joanna adds, “If you can, try not to add any sugar to the mix; there is plenty of sugar coming from the fruits. A strawberry oatmeal smoothie has a rich and creamy texture and is perfectly packed with vital ingredients.”
Here are a few smoothie recipes to get you started:Chris Hemsworth’s favourite smoothiesand5 simple protein blender smoothiesto supercharge recovery after exercise.
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4. Oats with eggs
“If you want a fuller breakfast before you exercise, try having 40 grams of cooked oatmeal with two egg whites or a whole egg”, says Joanna, “Oats provide a slow release of energy throughout the morning and helps to protect your heart health.” Eggs are a great source of muscle-building protein and choline, which is a nutrient vital to brain and liver health.
5. Trail mix
(Image credit: USN)
(Image credit: USN)
+1 Mass gainer
Aweight gainershake might be a good option as a pre-workout meal for those who find it hard to put on weight and need something that doesn’t require assembly or cooking. Mass gainers are a type ofprotein powderthat contains high amounts of carbohydrates that fuel muscle growth and give you the energy to work out.
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