Pre-workout Snack Recipes That Will Make You Energized

When it comes to losing weight and staying healthy, working out is just half of the battle. The other half is no other than your diet. What you eat plays a major role in your health, and this is most especially true before a workout.

As we all know, our gym sessions are not that forgiving. Each and every exercise that you do is designed to put your body to the test and subject it to the most demanding activities. To maximize the effects of your workout and help you endure the tough gym sessions, you have to choose your pre-workout snacks wisely.

Lucky for you, you no longer have to do your research as we have already done it for you. In fact, we have provided recipes for the four best pre-workout snacks below:

1. Mixed Berry Oatmeal

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If you will be working out in the morning, this is the best pre-workout recipe from The Gracious Pantry that you should try. Not only is this rich in fiber that will help you feel full for long, but it also contains antioxidants, protein, and sugar that will provide you the energy you need to finish your workout. Plus, it is tasty! Who can say no to berries, after all?

What You Need:

1 cup of old fashioned oatmeal

1 cup of mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and cranberries)

½ cup of skim milk

2 tablespoon of ground flaxseed

What To Do:

1.)    Cook oatmeal following the instructions on the label.

2.)    If the berries are still frozen, thaw them by putting in the microwave for 1 minute at only 40% of power.

3.)    Once the oatmeal is cooked, transfer it into a bowl.

4.)    Add milk and flaxseed meal and stir well.

5.)    Add the thawed mixed berries on top.

6.)    Serve and enjoy!

2.  Pre-Workout Granola Bar

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Granola bars are always at the top of the list when it comes to pre-workout snacks. That’s because they contain all the right ingredients that your body needs to fuel your workout. For one, the coconut oil in this recipe can provide you with a good amount of fats while honey which is a natural and healthier alternative to sugar.

Take a look at this amazing pre-workout recipe from Fuel for Endurance.

What You Will Need:

6 tablespoons of coconut oil

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

1/3 cup of brown sugar

¼ teaspoon of salt

2 cups of instant oats

1/3 cup of wheat germ

3 tablespoons of chocolate chips

1 cup of rice puff cereals

1/3 cup of honey

What To Do:

1.    Put coconut oil, honey, and sugar in a saucepan and stir thoroughly. Bring it to a boil.
2.    As you wait for the sweeteners and oil to boil, put all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl.
3.    Once the sweeteners and oil have boiled, transfer the mixture to the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir everything well.
4.    Cover a casserole dish with parchment paper. Spread the granola mixture evenly on the paper. Make sure to press down firmly to avoid any gaps or spaces.
5.    Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.
6.    Bake for 15 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
7.    Allow to cool before cutting into bars.

3. Vanilla Protein Smoothie

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We all know that protein powder is the best pre-workout supplement there is. However, if the taste of your protein powder is getting too old for you, you can simply spice it up by turning it into a smoothie like this recipe from PopSugar. The safest and most delicious flavor that you can try is vanilla.

What You Will Need:

1 scoop of your protein powder (unflavored or vanilla)

1 cup of vanilla-flavored almond milk

½ medium-sized banana

A few ice cubes

2 drops of sweetener of your choice

A dash of cinnamon

What to Do:

1.    Place all ingredients in the blender.
2.    Blend everything until you have achieved a smooth mixture.

I cannot emphasize how important your pre-workout snacks can be. The recipes mentioned above contain the right amount of proteins that can aid in your muscle recovery, healthy fats that can boost your performance and endurance and lastly, carbohydrates that you need to fuel your energy.

Just keep in mind that timing is important when eating your pre-workout snacks as you need to give the food time to be properly digested and absorbed by the body before working out. If you are just having a small snack, you can work out 30 minutes after eating, but for larger meals, you need to eat them 3-4 hours before your workout.

Author Bio:

Emily is founder of BodyShape101.com, a blog where she and her associates talk about exercise, fitness, and yoga. Their aim is to help people like you to achieve perfect body. BodyShape101 is concentrated on exercise & fitness tips, and making the most out of it. She is also a mother of one and she tries to find balance between her passion and her biggest joy in life.