One of the most common questions that I get asked as a personal trainer is what to eat pre- and post-workout. Fueling your workouts properly and eating a nutritious post-workout meal is just as important as exercising itself (especially if you want to reap the full benefits of your sweat session). Let me share with you what works best for me.
I keep my pre-workout fueling simple. Why? I’m usually not hungry when I wake up, and I tend to cramp up if I eat a big meal before I exercise. My go-to choices are a banana, half a bagel with peanut butter, or part of a granola bar.
Post-workout is when I can get creative! After I’ve finished a long run or bike ride, I love nothing more than to kick back and enjoy a delicious and refreshing smoothie bowl. I created this recipe in order to help my body recover after a hard workout. I like to call it the Strawberry Banana Crunch Smoothie Bowl, and I think you’re going to love it, too!
Here’s a brief breakdown of the ingredients and how they benefit you:
Bananas: potassium to prevent cramping
Greek Yogurt: protein to help your muscles recover and prevent injury
Berries: antioxidants to aid in recovery and neutralize free radicals produced by exercise
Chia Seeds & Flax Seeds: omega-3 fatty acids to reduce inflammation and prevent joint pain
Granola: carbs to help restore glycogen levels
Prep before you leave for a workout and this will take a few seconds to whip up when you return! Not only will it fuel your body, but it will help you to cool down, too.
Strawberry Banana Crunch Smoothie Bowl
serves 1
INGREDIENTS
1/2 sliced banana
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 cup frozen blueberries
1/4 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
~2 Tbsp. – 1/4 cup water, depending on the strength of your blender
Toppings:
1/2 banana, sliced
1 1/2 Tbsp. granola
1 tsp. chia seeds
1 tsp. flax seeds
1 Tbsp. unsweetened coconut
Drizzle of Honey
INSTRUCTIONS
1. In a blender, combine banana, frozen strawberries and blueberries, Greek yogurt, almond milk, and water. Blend until smooth.
2. Pour in a bowl and top with sliced banana, granola, chia seeds, flax seeds, coconut, and a drizzle of honey. Enjoy!
ALSO TRY THIS
Fig and Honey Breakfast Quinoa
Recipe by Dempsey Marks; Photos by Kacy Meinecke