Like I’ve mentioned before during my veggie posts, I’ve been working out a lot lately. Riding the bike machine at the gym on post and then walking/jogging on a treadmill at an incline. I’m not a fitness master. I’m not in great shape. But I’m stronger than I was yesterday. As long as I’m keeping up with my workout each day, I’m always stronger than the day before. I’m improving. Slowly. But I am.
When I get home after my workout, I either shower or eat depending on how hungry I am. I usually get home from the gym close to noon, so it’s lunch time. The worst thing to do would be to open a pint of ice cream and dig in! (No matter how much we want to!) But you don’t want to cancel out all the work you just did. And your body needs healthy food to regain energy and build your muscles. I’ve had several different foods after my workouts, and I’d like to share my favorite options with you.
Try These Foods After Your Workout
1. Hard boiled eggs. I love hard boiled eggs, especially on salads (#4). Plus, they are full of protein and even have vitamin D, so it’s a perfect post-workout option. If you don’t love hard boiled eggs, you can eat them anyway you choose — scrambled, on a sandwich, over easy …
2. Hummus. I used to not like hummus, but I tried it again a few weeks ago and this time I liked it. I like roasted garlic flavored hummus with flat bread, or even better naan bread. You could also eat hummus with veggies like carrots, celery, or broccoli. And another option is to eat it with pita chips. They have lots of different flavors at the grocery store, so try one out. You may find a new favorite healthy snack! And by the way, the carbs in hummus help keep your energy up after a tough workout.
3. Smoothies. Smoothies can soothe your sweet tooth while still being healthy.Frozen fruit, juice, yogurt, frozen yogurt, oats, veggies, ice — all sorts of options for what can go in your smoothie. I suggest trying out a strawberry oatmeal smoothie. I loved it!
4. Salads. I’m really into salads lately. I’ve been buying stuff at the grocery store to make my own salads at home for after workouts. My two favorites are a summer salad and a house salad. My version of a summer salad is made with: spinach, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, blueberries, sliced strawberries, feta cheese, and a raspberry vinaigrette. My house salad is made with: shredded lettuce, broccoli, shredded carrots, croutons, sunflower seeds, chopped hard boiled egg (#1) and ranch dressing. The great thing about a salad is you can have so much variety.
5. Fruit. Another way to get a sweet taste by still being healthy is to eat fruit. You can eat it by itself or with yogurt and granola. But don’t add sugar. Fruit I suggest eating is kiwi, strawberries, blueberries, pineapple, or apples. But specifically blueberries! They have antioxidants that are especially good for women. According to Men’s Health News, blueberries can triple your rate of recovery after you work out.
6. Bananas. Yes, I know it’s a fruit too. Bananas have a type of carbs that rebuild your muscles after a workout. They are also full of potassium, which keeps you from having a charlie horse. You don’t have to just eat a banana either. You can put it in a smoothie (#3) or make banana bread. Oh, or I love these chocolate peanut butter banana bites.
Other great options are fruit pops, black bean salad or vegetables like asparagus, broccoli, green beans or zucchini. If you feel like you need a meat, I suggest salmon! Full of antioxidants, so good for you and delicious too!
No matter what you eat as a meal or as a snack post-workout, be sure to drink plenty of water to hydrate yourself. My husband is all about reminding me of this!
What’s your favorite post-workout food?
[…] My favorite post-workout snack is a banana with peanut butter. What is your’s? Sometimes you’ve just got to shake things up to keep your fitness routine interesting. […]