It’s essential that you are fueling your mind and body with the right kinds of foods for your workout. By eating correctly before a workout, you can then be happy knowing that your body will have everything it needs to perform as well as you want it to. When you are a high school athlete and looking to become stronger and faster, eating correctly can be the difference between you and your competition. If you pair the right healthy pre-workout foods with all the right kinds of training, you can achieve that competitive edge you’ve been craving.
No matter what kind of training you’re doing, food helps powers you through it. A good pre-workout meal or snack, one with some generous combination of carbohydrates and protein, will give you long-lasting energy that’s necessary to complete a rigorous training session.
Let’s look at some examples. Here are some of the best foods that can really optimize your training plan.
Oatmeal With Low-Fat Milk
It can be difficult knowing what to have with breakfast if you enjoy working out and training in the mornings. Oatmeal is a great choice! Oatmeal is a carb that when digested by the body, benefits you with a slow release of energy. To ensure you get plenty of useful nutrients and vitamins, enjoy it made with some low-fat milk.
A Smoothie
If you don’t have long to wait for your breakfast to digest before you start your workout, you can enjoy a smoothie instead. Smoothies are very easy for the body to digest, so it won’t weigh heavily on your stomach while you are trying to exercise. You can add a banana and a handful of oats to ensure that your body gets plenty of carbs for energy.
Bananas
Bananas are carb-rich fruits, able to provide you with plenty of energy to make it through your training session, no matter how intense it is going to be. Like smoothies, they are very easy for the body to digest and won’t leave you feeling bloated. Bananas are also packed full of potassium, which is known to prevent cramps while exercising.
Trail Mix
Hikers swear by trail mix and many say that it provides them with enough energy to get through even the most arduous of walks. It’s also a great food to have just before you start your workout. Raisins are great sources of energy and the nuts in the mix are fantastic sources of proteins and healthy fats. Trail mix is also full of antioxidants which can help your body use oxygen more efficiently.
Whole Grain Bread
If you want something quick and easy to snack on before a workout, you can’t go wrong with toasted whole grain bread. The carbs in the toast will prevent you from burning out during your training session. Try topping the toast with either peanut butter or eggs, for you morning goers, for an extra hit of protein and energy. In fact, peanut butter on toast and scrambled eggs on toast will also be an effective post-workout snack that can help your body recover quicker and build muscle.
Grilled Chicken And Sweet Potato
This meal is perfect before training, as it’s full of healthy carbs and lean protein, ensuring your body gets everything that you need! Perfect if you’re the type to train later in the day, either after lunch or after dinner.
There are obviously tons of options for pre-workout food. Just make sure whatever you choose has the carbs and proteins to fuel your body so you can give it everything you’ve got during training.
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