Working out is great for your health: It clears your mind, strengthens your muscles, and raises your endorphins. But what’s a good sweat session without fuel? Of course, you don’t want to have a huge meal before a workout, but you also don’t want to exercise on an empty stomach, because eating before working out gives you more energy and helps you recover faster post workout.
So, instead, experts suggest having a light, healthy snack containing a mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fat before any workout. Here, we present some of the best pre-exercise snacks that will give you optimal energy to get through even the most intense workouts!
Dried Fruit & Nuts Combo
We’re talking two ingredients: dried fruit (carbs) and nuts (protein and fat). Grab a ¼ cup of dried mango slices and mix them with a handful of your favorite raw nuts, like almonds. This combination will provide long-lasting fuel to get you through weightlifting or extended cardio.
Greek Yogurt & Granola
If you want a snack that packs a protein punch with easy-to-digest carbs, look no further than Greek yogurt and granola. If you’re feeling adventurous, add some blackberries or raspberries. You can even top it off with a teaspoon of honey for natural sweetness.
Omelet
Eggs are packed with muscle-building protein and contain nine essential amino acids. That’s reason enough for an omelet to make our list of pre-exercise snacks! If you choose this healthy snack before a workout, you should consume it about two hours before hitting the gym. This will help you avoid muscle catabolism (the wasting of lean muscle tissue). Add greens like spinach or kale as desired for additional superfood nutrients.
Fresh Fruit, Nut Butter, Seeds
For a super-easy pre-exercise snack, try sliced apples (carbs) with peanut butter (protein and fat) or a chopped banana with almond butter, then sprinkle chia or hemp seeds on top.
Overnight Oats
Oatmeal is an excellent source of carbs, but it can take too long to make. That’s why many fitness fanatics are hopping aboard the overnight oats train. To prepare, pour a cup of steel-cut oats into a sealable container before bed. Add almond milk, berries, nuts, granola, and honey – (the perfect combo of carbs, protein, and fat) and place in the fridge. By morning, the oats will be soft, and the ingredients will have mixed together.