Working out is very important, but what you eat before and after can be just as important as the workout itself. Going straight to a McDonalds after working out is probably not the best post workout snack. What you put into your body can be a make-or-break situation on how quickly and effectively you achieve your fitness goals.
There are a lot of deciding factors on what to eat after a great workout. Depending on the time of the day, you may be able to consume a full meal. Other times, for example late at night, you may just want a quick snack to refuel. For the sake of this blog post, we will give you a few ideas about the best post workout snack rather than meals.
The Science Behind The Best Post Workout Snack
When it comes to figuring out what the best post workout snack is for you, you have to take into consideration what you want to be putting in your body. Your body uses a lot of energy when working out and to refuel your body you should be eating plenty of protein, carbohydrates, and water after a workout. Water is a given because you should always stay hydrated.
Carbohydrates
As Stephanie Kay puts it, “Carbohydrates are the body’s natural form of energy and are stored in our muscles as glycogen. During exercise, glycogen is utilized as fuel and our stores are depleted; the more intense the activity the more glycogen is utilized.” This means that we have to eat carbohydrates in order to refuel the body. You hear all these bad things about carbs but in reality they are a necessity.
Protein
Protein is also a necessity when working out, it helps to repair your muscles after a workout. In the most general terms, exercise breaks down muscles and that is how they get bigger and stronger. Protein helps aid the rebuilding of those broken down muscles. No protein in your diet just slows down that process of repairing and rebuilding muscles.
The Snacks
Avocado Toast
Everyone has seen an article or video about the avocado toast craze. Although it may be a little amped up, it is not always inaccurate information. Avocado toast can be one of the best post workout snacks available. Not only do avocado’s contain a good source of protein but they also contain other beneficial minerals and vitamins. They are loaded with unsaturated fats which are much better for you. One of the main reasons it is so good though is because of the amount of good fibers in it that are essential for weight loss.
Greek Yogurt with Berries
Low-fat greek yogurt is another post workout snack that is essential. Greek yogurt can have nearly 15g of protein depending on how much you eat. No only is the yogurt great for you, but the berries on top of it add some fruit and color to your diet that everyone can use. Greek yogurt can help repair your muscles at a fantastic rate and the protein in it is perfect for an after workout snack.
Peanut Butter Banana Protein Smoothie
Back to getting those proteins, carbs and hydration. With the peanut butter banana smoothie, you can get all three if made correctly. The peanut butter will give you an ample amount of protein. The water in the smoothie will hydrate you, although it is still recommended to drink plenty more water. The banana will provide the carbohydrates to give you some extra fuel for the rest of your day. This is the power punch of the best post workout snacks. It contains a little (or a lot) of everything you need after a workout.
Protein Bars
We have all heard the dreaded stories about how bad protein bars taste. I am here to tell you that they are not always that bad. Not only do some taste delicious, but they also are very good for you post workout. If you are looking for a protein bar that tastes amazing along with getting the nutrients you need, you should go with the RXBar Chocolate Sea Salt. This bar tastes like a chocolate brownie as well as gives you 12g of protein, 24g of carbs and 210 calories. I highly suggest this bar and eat them often myself after workouts.
Conclusion
When it comes to the best post workout snack, there are many options that you can choose from. The list we just gave are some of our favorites but there are plenty more to choose from. Snacking can get a bad reputation but if you snack the right way, it can actually be very beneficial to you and your workout. Looking for more reading? Check out our muscle building diet plan. Let us know what your favorite snack is in the comments below. As always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Greetings! Very useful advice within this article! It is the little changes that produce the most significant changes. Thanks for sharing!