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Food & Drink

The Best Foods To Fuel Your Body Post-Workout

The Best Foods To Fuel Your Body Post-Workout

I get it, sis. You just worked your tail off with a workout where you felt you could literally feel your calories burning off for good. But the work doesn't end there. While we're all trying to channel our inner Tracee Ellis Ross and Angela Bassett, a solid workout isn't enough. Even if you feel like you just did all the cardio in the world. What you eat after your workout can play a major part in your lifestyle choices.

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And while it's tempting to treat yourself to Chick-Fil-A and Dairy Queen, there are better options that will fuel that intense workout.

Potatoes

While French fries are clearly not the best option to load up on after working out, that doesn't mean you can't eat regular potatoes (i.e. baked potatoes, sautéed potatoes, and such). When prepared the right way, they can actually serve as a good carb and restore your body with necessary glycogen, which helps keep your blood sugar levels on point. It goes without saying that fruits and vegetables are great for after a workout, but the key is balance. And that's where potatoes come in. Other good carbs include oatmeal, crackers, a granola bar (read the label), and dried fruit.

Protein

Your body will definitely need to refuel after you hit the gym (or your living room floor). While carbs are great to stock up on (the good kind of course), there's also a need to replenish your body with protein. Basically, carbs and protein are the yin and yang to the best foods for your workout. Since carbs have already been covered, great sources of protein include quinoa, cottage cheese, kefir, eggs, turkey breast, and nuts such as almonds. Of course, you can expand outside of that and go for tofu, fish, and beans too.

Balanced Meals

It might not be a good idea to eat too much after a workout (hey, cramps) but there's definitely room for a well-balanced meal; especially one to two hours after your workout session. Considering the idea of a well-balanced meal has been argued lately, it's safe to say it includes a healthy meat choice like grilled chicken or salmon, a good carb like rice or potatoes, and of course a fruit and/or vegetable. If you're vegan, you've already found a great protein substitute for chicken and fish. But in case you need a few more, there's always the likes of quinoa, tofu, and mushrooms.

Smoothie

Smoothies are always great after a workout because you can literally just throw in a bunch of nutrients and enjoy. It's quick, it's easy, and it's healthy. Another bonus is that it gets you full and causes you to steer away from feeding your hunger with unnecessary food that's not even healthy. Here's a quick tip for smoothies: the key is avocado. That's the ingredient that makes you fuller for a longer period of time, even more than fruit. Plus, it's full of healthy fats that can help your joints before you jump into your next workout.

Snack

If you're like me, you can find any excuse to indulge in a snack. Thankfully, an amazing workout is a great reason, as long as it's a healthy choice. Some of them include a cup of chocolate milk (yes, you can do it, sis), whole wheat toast with peanut butter and banana, hard-boiled eggs with whole wheat toast, a protein smoothie, a veggie omelet, and so on and so on. These snacks and other healthy options are great to eat while you prepare your well-balanced meal. Sidebar: almonds and oranges are also a great combination. Who else remembers when Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams spilled that that was Beyonce's go-to when she was preparing for Coachella?

Fat

​Not all fats are bad to eat after a workout. Like many other things on this list, it really just depends on the kind you select. For example, whole milk is better at boosting your muscle growth compared to skim milk, at least after a workout. While you should definitely put a ceiling on how much fat you eat after a workout, there's no need to ban it from your post-workout diet altogether. Some examples of good fats are dark chocolate, whole eggs, fatty fish like salmon, nuts, chia seeds, and avocados.

Bread or Yogurt

Just like fats, it depends on the kind. But when you spring for the right one, your body is definitely getting the fuel it needs after a good cardio session. For yogurt, I think we all know the best kind to eat is Greek. And feel free to add some fruit or granola into it for taste. For bread, the best kind is whole wheat. You can toast it and add peanut butter or almond butter or make a sandwich with turkey or chicken and soup on the side.

Featured image by Shutterstock

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