Pre-Workout Snacks: 20 Nutritious Ideas to Power Your Workouts
Proper fueling before exercise is essential to a good workout. Whether you're hitting the gym, going for a run, or engaging in any other physical activity, what you consume before your training session can make a significant difference in your overall performance.
Here you’ll find quick and easy snack ideas that can be prepared in a matter of minutes, ensuring that you have ample time to digest before getting active. These snacks are safe to eat within 30 to 60 minutes before training, allowing you to fuel up conveniently without compromising your workout. The timing at which you eat your snack will depend very much on your digestive system’s personal tolerance since we definitely want to avoid tummy troubles during your training session.
An ideal pre-workout snack should be low in fat, moderate in protein, and high in complex carbs.
Snack ideas to fuel your workouts:
Apple with a tablespoon of almond butter
Greek yogurt topped with mixed berries
Whole grain toast with a boiled egg
A serving of fruit with some low-fat cheese (ex. cheddar)
Trail mix (mostly dried fruit with a smaller proportion of nuts/seeds in the mix)
A fruit smoothie made with some milk or yogurt
Oatmeal topped with sliced fruits and a sprinkle of sunflower or chia seeds
Rice cakes with a light spread of nut butter or cottage cheese and sliced banana
Cottage cheese topped with pineapple chunks or mixed fruits
Grapes with a side of string cheese
Home-made oat energy balls (click here for the recipe)
Energy bars that contain a mix of carbohydrates and some protein (check the ingredients)
Quinoa salad with some grilled chicken or tofu
Nut butter and jelly sandwich on whole grain bread (white bread could be a better choice for long workouts that are over 60-90 minutes continuously)
Low-fat chocolate milk (also a great choice for post-workout rehydration)
Smoothie bowl with blended fruits, yogurt, and a sprinkle of granola or nuts on top
