You completed another intense workout, and you want to reward your body with some nutrient-dense yumminess.
After a workout, it’s important to replenish your energy with carbs, healthy sugars, and fats.
Consider your electrolyte level when choosing food and drinks after a particularly sweaty workout.
Here are some ideas for healthy snacks to eat after a workout:
The Lighter Side
Use 1/2 cup cottage cheese with a handful of your favorite fruits for a low-calorie, lighter snack.
Fruits provide your body with sugars that you can use all day long and electrolytes for replenishment post-workout. Cottage cheese is a great source of protein.
Coconut Slushy
Coconut water ice-cold is the best way to replenish electrolytes after Hot yoga! Add it to your post-workout snack to promote more cardiovascular and muscular health.
Blend 2 cups coconut water, ice, 1/4 cup of mango, and blueberries or raspberries. Add one tablespoon each of ground flax or chia seed to add healthy omegas and fatty acids.
Kale and Walnut Slurpee
Keep with the coconut water idea. Mix 2 cups of coconut water with 1/4 cup almond milk and 1/4 cup kale juice (just enough to add nutrients but not so much that it makes your Slurpee taste bitter). This concoction can be blended with walnuts.
Coconut is rich in potassium, which replenishes muscles. Walnuts and almond milk are full of delicious fatty acids as well as protein that promotes muscle health.
Hard-Boiled Eggs
Peel and eat. You can add a bit of seasoning, such as turmeric, curry, or cyan pepper.
Easy to prepare a protein fix before your workout and will feed your hungry body after your gym session.
Berried Yogurt
Try adding 1/2 cup of berries to 1 cup of nonfat Greek yogurt. You can also add cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, or local honey.
The berries are rich in antioxidants, which can help to improve your cell health after an intense workout. Yogurt is also high in probiotics and protein. You are boosting muscle health while also taking care of your digestion.
Eggs on Toast
Protein is on top, and carbs are at the bottom to boost energy! Poach or hard boil the eggs, then smash or slice them onto multi-grain bread for a healthier option. Add some greenery with baby spinach or arugula and avocado slices to aid in digestion.
Add a pinch or two of Pink Himalayan Salt or a tomato chopped for electrolytes.
Banana Shake
Blend a banana rich in potassium with 1 cup of low-fat milk (choose chocolate milk for a bit of extra flavor) and a teaspoon of almond or peanut butter.
Popeye Special
Blend some ice, 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, a spoonful of peanut butter, and 1 cup almond milk with 4 cups of spinach to get a bit more green for your bones.
Spinach has been shown to strengthen bones and improve muscle performance.
The Classic
This is a classic, but it’s a great one to do after work or before dinner. Put lean meat like grilled chicken on top of butternut squash to get the nutrients.
You will feel satisfied after a long day of intense exercise.
The best way to recover after a workout is by taking into account all of your needs. Eating the right foods at the time when your body most needs them will help you achieve better health faster.
