Now that summer’s here and your motivation is peaking, the time has come to polish up your fitness resolutions and stick to them all the way until you reach the ‘rippedness’ of your dreams. And the only way to get there is by gearing up for some exhausting workouts!
Exercise is very stressful for our bodies, so they need to be well nourished in order to perform on an optimal level. And nothing could keep you going strong like a powerful pre-workout meal!
If you eat too much your workout will suffer, but if you eat an adequate amount of quality protein and complex carbs just before you enter the gym, your body will have the fuel required to endure a hard workout and keep fatigue away.
Here we have three healthy snack recipes that will help you bring your workout to a whole new level by providing you with sustainable levels of energy while you’re pounding the iron.
So get ready to become stronger and leaner in less time with these delicious mini-meals!
#1: The ultimate morning pre-workout meal: Dressed Almond Oats
If you’re a fan of hitting the gym as soon as you roll out of bed, we have the perfect power breakfast to wake you up and get you through a strenuous workout – a tasty, creamy blend of carbs, healthy fats and protein to both satisfy your appetite and load your muscles.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup vanilla soy milk
- 1/2 tablespoon almond butter
- 1/2 tablespoon agave syrup
- 10 sliced almonds
Cook the rolled oats and vanilla soy milk in a saucepan on medium-high heat until the mixture becomes thick and creamy. Add the agave syrup and almond butter and stirr well. Put the oatmeal in bowl and mix in the sliced almonds for a delicious boost of crunchiness.
#2: Eggs are exercise’s best friend: Green Eggs on Toast, Power Punch Salad and Rainbow Scrambled Eggs
As you know, eggs offer the perfect combination of high quality protein and precious vitamins and minerals known to mankind, so why not make the best use of it by pairing eggs with slices of avocado or a handful of veggies for an optimally colorful and nutritious pre-workout meal?
Green Eggs on Toast
Ingredients:
- 1 slice bread, whole wheat
- 1 egg
- 2-3 slices avocado
Toast a slice of whole wheat bread and set aside. Preheat pan on medium-high heat and scramble one egg. Add the egg to the toast and top it with slices of avocado.
Power Punch Salad
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sautéed veggies of choice
- 1 teaspoon Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon vinegar
- 1/2 ounce queso blanco, crumbled
- 1 hard boiled egg
- 1 cup packed baby greens
- salt and pepper
Toss veggies and greens together. Top with hard boiled egg and sprinkle salad with cheese. Dress salad with vinegar, olive oil and salt and pepper to taste.
Rainbow Scrambled Eggs
Ingredients:
- 2 eggs
- 1/4 cup red pepper, strips
- 1/4 cup yellow pepper, strips
- 1/4 cup onion, thinly sliced
- 1/8 teaspoon cayenne
- salt and pepper
Preheat pan on medium-high heat. Sauté pepper strips and onion. Add egg and scramble ingredients together until fluffy and dry. Sprinkle cayenne and add salt and pepper to taste.
#3: Pre-workout chicken goodness: Roasted Chicken and Avocado Cream Pasta
If you’re feeling especially hungry, give yourself a decent boost before you head off to the gym with this protein-rich meal. The whole weat pasta will provide you with a good amount of complex carbs, while avocado, one of the most valuable foods that nature has given us, brings easily digested healthy fats, soluble fiber, folic acid and plenty of vitamins to the table.
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 3-4 slices avocado, ripe
- 1/2 cup cooked pasta
- 4 ounces roast chicken
Make a creamy sauce by mixing olive oil and avocado, then add it to the already cooked pasta and mix all ingredients well until you achieve uniform consistency. Add the roast chicken and sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
via weeathealthy