Eating a meal after a really good workout is perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences ever. You deserve to treat yourself after putting in all that time and energy into exercising. Let’s be real: We’re pretty sure that sweat session wasn’t easy. Cardio, weight lifting, and workouts in general are absolutely no joke.
But before you go all out into your post-workout meal, make sure you still opt for foods that have nutritional value. Don’t let your hard work go to waste. After all, you didn’t go through all that for nothing. So with that in mind, what foods exactly should you eat after a workout? Keep reading to see what personal trainers, fitness professionals, and nutritionists recommend.
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Sweet Potatoes
According to fitness instructor Alana Zabel, "Protein shakes, in addition to blueberries, banana, or sweet potatoes, are my go to fuel post-workout." As a good source of carbohydrates, this kind of post-workout food can "[replenish your energy], improve your immune system, build and rebuild your muscles" and more.
In an article published by Harpers Bazaar, nutritionist David Wiener says, "Eating a sweet potato post-workout is ideal as they contain copper, which can help maintain healthy muscle tissue and replenish energy levels. Sweet potatoes also contain vitamin C which helps to prevent muscle catabolism (the breakdown of muscle tissue)."
Eggs
Yasmine Mavrakis, Registered Dietitian, and founder of Mavrakis Nutrition explains, "Especially when lifting weights, muscles actually undergo micro tears which require nutrients like protein to repair the damage and stimulate growth. Protein is made of amino acids, which are necessary to repair and rebuild damage caused during exercise.”
And as you may already know, eggs are packed with protein. If you're in a rush and need to prepare a quick post-workout meal, eggs might just be your best bet. You can even try adding this condiment to speed up the fat-burning process!
Protein Smoothie
Similarly, fitness expert Mario Tomic notes, "Your post-workout meal, the meal after a workout, [should] be high in protein, moderate-high in carbs, and low to moderate in fat." If you don't have chicken breast, turkey, cottage cheese, or eggs, then consider blending your very own protein smoothie!
You can try making this mango-chia protein smoothie from fitness coach Lunden Souza or this spinach and flax protein smoothie from The Blonde Buckeye.
