After a good cardio workout, it’s normal to feel hungry. After all, you use lots of energy when you work up a sweat. The foods you eat can either support your body and all the hard work it just did, or not. That’s why it’s important to fill up on nutritious foods that help muscles recover post workout. Here are 10 tasty snacks to munch on.
According to certified sports dietitian, Edwina Clark, M.S., R.D., what you eat will depend on the intensity of your workout. So, for light cardio exercise, a small serving of both carbohydrates and protein does the trick.
- Toasted whole grain bread with organic peanut butter
- 1 cup of Greek yogurt
- 1 apple, sliced with 2 tablespoons of peanut butter, or a nut butter of your choice
- 5 to 10 whole grain crackers, paired with full fat cheese slices
- A palmful of nuts, along with 1/4 cup of dried fruit
When it comes to more intense cardio workouts, Clark recommends snacks that have a higher carbohydrate-to-protein ratio. Think 3:1 or 4:1. It all depends on you, your workout and what your body’s telling you.
- 1/2 turkey wrap with side of vegetables
- Fruit smoothie with Greek yogurt
- Pita bread, hummus spread and tomato
- Full fat cheese, whole grain crackers and a serving of fresh fruit
- Nut butter and banana sandwich on whole grain brain
After a cardio workout, it’s important to fuel your body with carbohydrates and proteins to support muscle recovery, and to help you work through your next fitness session.
