If you want to get the most out of your gym session, you also need to consider how you’re going to fuel your body before and after. A lot of people have made the mistake of skipping eating a meal or snack before or after thus minimizing their improvement. If you want to avoid this, you might want to look into these smart snacks that you can have before and after your workout.
Large pear with honeyÂ
If you are planning on doing cardio in your fitness session, it would be a good idea to have a large pear at least 30 minutes before you hit the gym. Slice the pear and drizzle 1 ½ teaspoon of honey over it. This combination only yields 41 g of carbs, 1 g of protein, and 153 calories.Â
Almond coconut mocha protein smoothieÂ
Another pre-workout snack that will give you the energy that you need to perform better is the almond coconut mocha protein smoothie. You will need ½ cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 teaspoon of coconut extract, 2 scoops of vegan or non-dairy vanilla protein powder, 2 tablespoon of cocoa powder, 2 tablespoon of sugar, ½ cup of cold coffee, 1 cup of ice, 1 teaspoon of instant coffee granules, ½ cup of shredded sweetened coconut, and whipped cream for garnishing. Combine all the ingredients in a blender then pulse until they have been mixed thoroughly and smoothly. Serve afterwards to get your energy level raised in time for your workout session.Â
Crispbread and avocadoÂ
HIIT or high intensity interval training will leave your energy level depleted and your muscles aching especially when you don’t replace the lost nutrients in them. Fortunately, a great post-workout snack that you can prepare is 1 crispbread, 2 tablespoons of avocado, and 3 tablespoons of shredded cheese. The protein in this snack can help replenish your lost energy while assisting in repairing tired muscles for less aches and pains.
Sweet potato pie protein shakeÂ
Protein shakes come in handy as both pre- and post-workout snacks. They are easy to whip up and can supply your muscles with their much needed energy to assist you in your gym session. If you are going to have it after your workout, the protein shake will be able to repair your muscles quickly to spare you from the discomfort of tired muscles. For this shake, you will need 4 ounces of cooked sweet potato, a tablespoon of caramel dip, 5 ice cubes, ¾ cup of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, 1 scoop of protein powder, one packet of stevia, and a dash of cloves, all spice, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Simply combine all the ingredients in a blender and pulse until you achieve a smooth consistency. Transfer to a glass and drink up.Â
These are just a few snack suggestions that you can try the next time you plan on working out. Keep in mind that your body needs adequate amounts of fuel for it to perform and recuperate afterwards.