Top 5 Ideas For Post-Workout Snacks That You Should Try Now
Fitness is 70% diet and 30% workout. Spending hours at the gym, lifting weights and doing cardio does not guarantee you a perfect body. It’s very dependant on how you eat too and your calorie intake. Working out is important but without a healthy diet, I’m afraid the results from your fitness routine will be minimal.
One aspect that a lot of people tend to forget about is refuelling the body after a workout. Exercising puts the body under a lot of stress, which usually results in muscle soreness, increased appetite or sleepiness after a workout. Therefore, having a post-workout snack is needed to quickly restore your energy levels, repair your muscles and reduce fatigue. Enhance recovery and muscle building with a little snack!
Eating after a workout is important but that doesn’t mean you can just eat whatever you want. Greasy, processed and sugary food is not the way to go. By giving your body the right nutrients, it increases the benefits of a post-workout snack and gets you closer to achieving your fitness goal. The top nutrients you should look for are proteins and carbohydrates. Protein helps repair the broken-down muscles while carbohydrates replenish the energy you lost, preventing fatigue.
But time is of the essence. If you are busy and don’t want to spend too much time prepping these post-workout meals, below are some suggestions for you.
Protein Bars
As the name suggests, protein bars are here to provide you with the protein you need after a workout. These bars rank high on our list because of their convenience. You only need to stock up on a few bars and put them in your workout bag – then take one out to snack on right after a session. It’s an ideal post-workout snack for busy or lazy people (me included). However, it is also very important to pick out the right protein bars. Some protein bars out there are just glorified candy bars which can cause more harm than good. Take some time to read through their calorie content, the ideal protein bar should contain fibers, no trans fats and as little sugar as possible. Here are two of our favourite protein bars:
RX Protein Bars
RX Protein Bars are the embodiment of the saying: “Less is more”. They stand out thanks to their simple ingredient list, usually only having 3 – 4 ingredients. This includes eggs white (great source of protein), nuts and dates. The bars contain high levels of protein, fiber, no added sugar, no gluten, no artificial colors or preservatives. They stay true to their “No B.S” statement: tasty and healthy. RX Protein Bars comes in 13 different flavors, some of the top flavors are Lemon, Blueberry, Chocolate Sea Salt, Maple Sea Salt. With the variety of flavors, you are never going to get bored of RX Protein Bars.
VITAWERX Protein Milk Chocolate Bar
VITAWERX Protein Milk Chocolate Bar
These chocolate bars contain a high level of protein with little sugar and little carbs. They are also gluten-free and keto-friendly. They are perfect for those who love creamy, delicious chocolate bars but still aims to lose weight and build muscles. VITAWERX has a secret formulation that allows the bars to taste as good as a real chocolate bar without sacrificing the healthy aspect. Compared to the RX bars, they are a little bit more expensive but hey, they are delicious and definitely worth it. Satisfy your sweet tooth without destroying your hours of hard work at the gym. On top of that, the packaging is just so darn cute.
Chocolate Milk
If you dislike eating after a workout; you can refuel the body with liquid instead. The best liquid option is chocolate milk. Chocolate milk has almost double the level of protein and carbohydrates compared to water, plain milk or sports drink. Therefore, chocolate milk is usually considered the top recovery drink. It is also a great source of calcium and sodium, helping you regain water and energy and keeps your bones and heart healthy. However, you also need to research to find the best chocolate milk for you. Find one with low fat and low added sugar.
Almonds
If both eating and drinking are not for you, consider almonds. It’s great for those who don’t want to stomach a lot of food after a workout. Almonds are packed with protein and fiber as well as super convenient to eat. They don’t require refrigeration so keep some in your gym bag and snack away whenever you want. Just remember to drink enough water after eating them to help them expand. You definitely don’t want to get constipated from eating too much nuts!
Greek Yoghurt
Yoghurt is a nutrient-dense food, mostly made up of protein and carbohydrates. Greek yoghurt contains twice the amount of protein found in normal yoghurt. Having some with berries after your workout helps fight muscle soreness very well. On top of that, eating yoghurt is great for your digestive system. It also contains calcium, which is good for your bones and heart.
Eggs And Toast
This is a simple and perfect combination of protein and carbohydrates, exactly what your body needs after an intense workout. This dish is easy to make and easy to eat. Eggs are a great protein source. Meanwhile, the toast provides you the carbohydrates you need to feel energized and ready for other activities of the day.
With our suggestions, we hope you can understand more about the importance of post-workout snacks and pick the right one based on your needs and lifestyles. All of the options listed above are easy to prepare, easy to eat and very convenient. If you are not used to eating or snacking after a workout, there’s no excuse for you now. Feed your body with the nutrients it needs! Don’t starve yourself. Treat your body well and they will return the favour.
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