How to be savvy about refueling.
After a crazy workout, there are many things you might want to eat, but shoving a Mars bar in your mouth post-workout might just make you feel like you’re undoing all that good work. And you’d be right. If you don’t put the right kind of food in your body, you’re not helping it be as strong as possible.
Below are the seven secret foods that these fitness experts always turn to after they’ve been working out. Some will definitely surprise you. Keep scrolling for the best food to refuel with after a workout.
CHOCOLATE
We all love a treat occasionally, and indulging in a sweet treat after you have done some hard work is a good idea. Nutrition health expert, Dr. Mike Roussell suggests that if you are still looking to splurge a bit when you’re training, eat that stuff post-gym. But try sticking to things like dark chocolate à la Clean Eating Alice (here, she’s gone for Doisy & Dam’s chocolate). Also, it’s thought that dark chocolate can aid performance too.
COTTAGE CHEESE
Cottage cheese might seem kind of old-school, but it’s great particularly for those who are looking for low-calorie foods that taste great. While eggs are always touted as the go-to food for a post-workout meal, cottage cheese also contains a lot of protein, which is great for keeping you full and for maintaining an “intake of protein also helps preserve muscle while you lose the fat on your weight-loss diet,” says Jill Corleone, a registered dietitian and health coach.
SWEET POTATO
You be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t love a sweet potato. So why is it such an incredible food for when you’ve been hitting the gym hard? Quite simply, when you exercise, your blood sugar level will drop; this helps to restore that balance and “provide antioxidants and are a nutritionally dense carbohydrate option,” advises Stephanie Greunke, a registered dietician.
PEA
Not only do peas freeze well (great for when you don’t have any fresh veggies in the house), they also contain high levels of vitamin C and protein, in comparison with other vegetables, meaning you’ll stay fuller longer.
SALMON
Salmon is another great food packed with protein that will help you stay full. But it’s not just that; salmon also contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to reduce post exercise muscle inflammation.
EGGS
Okay, perhaps this one isn’t so secret, but cast your eye over any fitness expert’s Insta feed and you’ll spot that they spend a lot of time chowing down on eggs. And it’s for good reason. Yes, they contain a lot of protein, but did you also know that they are rich in antioxidants as well as many other body-boosting vitamins such as vitamin A, B12, B2 and B5?
CAULIFLOWER
While broccoli is great, cauliflower is amazing at helping to burn fat. We’ll be having some of that, thank you very much.
