What to Eat Before a Workout: Best Snacks to Lose Weight & Build Muscle

Learn what is the best thing to eat before a workout to lose weight and build muscle. If you work out in the morning, a healthy breakfast is essential. Pre-workout snacks provide you with the energy you need to perform your best. Check the top 5 pre-workout meal ideas plus quick and easy recipes.

What you eat every day is a great determinant of your workout success. The amount of nutrients that you take into your body will determine your energy level for the next workout session. This is why you always need to eat the right food. One of the common mistakes in eating is not including snacks in the diet program. We eat unhealthy food in between meals and we wonder why our diet plan does not work.

Most people are not really familiar with the right food to eat after or before workout. This will make your progress slower and sometimes, it can also be a reason for the workout routine not to work fully for your own benefit. So, before you go on with your next workout session, assess yourself and your eating habits. Think about the food that you regularly bring with you when you go to the gym. Think about the nutrient content of every food you have included in your list of workout snacks. Your workout snacks should also be beneficial to your body. Here is a list of suggested pre-workout snacks to help you decide on what to eat:

Chicken stuffed avocados

The good fat content of avocado is healthy for the heart. Aside from that, it also contains other minerals that can help you boost your energy. You can stuff it with seafood and other food that can add to its nutrient content. This fibre rich food can also be good for your weight loss and muscle building activity. Stuffing it with chicken will make it more nutritious.

Ingredients:

• 1 avocado (large)
• 2/3 cups of cooked chicken breast (shredded)
• A teaspoon of lime juice
• ½ teaspoon of paprika powder
• 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter
• Sliced mushrooms
• Salt and pepper

Melt the butter in medium heat and add the sliced mushrooms until it becomes watery. Add the chicken. And lastly, the paprika powder, salt and pepper. When cooked, put in a separate bowl. Apply lime juice to the avocado and add the chicken sauté.

Egg whites

There are different benefits that you can get from egg whites especially if you are into regular workout routine. They contain protein that can be helpful in building muscle. Egg whites can give you more energy and can make you feel full. So, you can go on with your workout without thinking about stopping because of hunger. And aside from the different benefits listed above, egg whites can also be a great help in regulating your blood pressure.

Protein date balls

The main thing that you need to consider when you are into regular workout is to know the carbohydrate content of the food you eat. Dates contain different minerals and vitamins such as magnesium, vitamin B6, riboflavin and others. These are known to help in the easy breakdown of carbohydrates and even fats. This is a very important process that should not be overlooked whenever you work out.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup dates
• 1 tablespoon protein powder
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon chia seeds
• 1.5 cups of cashews

Mix all the ingredients in a food processor. Blend until you achieve the desired mixture. Create small balls and roll them in shredded coconut or cocoa powder. Put in the fridge.

Oatmeal

If you are thinking about the best food that contains fiber, you should consider oatmeal first. It has a lot of benefits that are perfect for people who are actively engaged in regular workout routines. First, it is very nutritious. You will not feel guilty whenever you are going to add a bowl of it to your breakfast. It is also an antioxidant. And most of all, it can be an aid in lowering the cholesterol level in the body.

Whole orange smoothie

Vitamin C is the first thing that will come into your mind whenever you think about oranges. But this is not the only vitamin that it contains. It is also rich in calcium, potassium and even fiber. These are all necessary in losing unnecessary fats and in maintaining normal weight. Check recipes for weight loss smoothies you can make at home.

The food you eat will determine your success in losing weight and in building muscles. If you want to achieve that lean and strong body, you need to free yourself from the food that can hinder weight loss and make you unhealthy. You need to eat less carbohydrates. You need more protein especially for breakfast if you want to work out for a long time.

Aside from the things provided above, you should not forget to include drinking enough water in your list of to do’s. Aside from that, sleep is also a very important thing to be considered. Even if you are eating the right food during meal times and even during your snack time after workout, you will not be able to exercise if you are not going to get enough sleep. Getting a healthy body requires a holistic approach that includes all areas of your life.  Whey protein isolate is also a valuable addition to the healthy diet and it is very useful when you need to boost the protein content of your pre- or post-workout meals and snacks.