The best partner you can have for your workouts is a nutritious meal to go with it! It’s not always about how much you sweat in the gym, how long you spend working out, or how intense your exercise routines are. While these factors could affect your potential results, food intake is something you should also prioritize.
The meals you eat before and after your workout are essential as they contribute to the potential results you can achieve. Eating the right foods could be a huge plus in propelling you towards your desired body goals. That being said, below are some foods that you can easily follow to make your workout more effective.
Chicken breast
If your main goal in working out is to develop and tone your muscles, don’t forget to eat chicken breast. Chicken breasts are high in protein, which is essential for muscle building. Also, many weightlifters see this as an ideal food for building lean muscle mass. Thus, some even consume it daily.
Also, when you eat chicken, make sure to eat the breast part. While each part of the chicken can benefit you in many ways, opting for the breast part is best because it is low in fat. The less fat the chicken has, the more protein it has.
Apart from protein, it is also a great source of creatine. Creatine is a famous substance among many athletes because it helps a person gain muscle and increase muscle strength. It is usually found in various foods such as red meat and seafood.
Fortunately, chicken is one of them. But, if you don’t have enough time to find natural food sources of creatine near your area, try the most effective creatine to build more muscle. Today, you can get the nutritional benefits of creatine through supplements that are widely available on the market.
tuna
Tunas are good as a post-workout meal. Like chicken breasts, tuna is a great source of protein and other important nutrients, such as vitamin B and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining a healthy body.
If you choose to eat tuna after every workout, it wouldn’t be a hassle as you can easily bring a can of tuna and pair it with your favorite crackers. Also, you can try using it as a filling for your bread and make a sandwich. When selecting canned tuna, the best choice would be the light ones for better muscle growth and low mercury content.
tofu
Tofu is one of the very popular plant-based foods that can be added to various dishes and recipes. It’s a great choice for many athletes and gym rats on a vegetarian diet because it’s made with soy. In addition, it contains a lot of potassium, which is good for ensuring the proper functioning of muscles, and proteins that can help muscle growth and help a person gain better endurance, especially during training sessions.
Plus, there are tons of tofu recipes that you’re sure to love! For those on strict diets, you can add it to your salads and a dressing of your choice to enhance the taste. Some use it as a filling for shawarma wraps, while others consume it with a couple of brown rice to make it healthier.
eggs
Before or even after training, eggs are the perfect food for a more effective training session in the gym, especially for those who want to eat on the go. There are many ways to consume an egg depending on your preference, but if you’re in a hurry, you can never go wrong with traditional hard-boiled eggs.
Eggs are a great source of essential amino acids, which are beneficial in three ways, specifically through the growth, repair and maintenance of muscle mass. In this sense, if you plan to exercise, it is enough to consume a maximum of three eggs during breakfast. But the amount of egg you’ll eat will also vary depending on your underlying medical conditions, which you should discuss with your doctor first.
sweet potato
After a high-intensity workout, try eating sweet potatoes as a post-workout meal. Sweet potatoes contain various nutritional contents such as copper, which is excellent for maintaining healthy muscle tissue and helping a person recharge the energy they have used.
In addition, it contains carbohydrates, which are essential for all fitness fanatics after intense physical activity. As you spend time exercising, it’s normal to feel exhausted from all the energy you’ve used. In this regard, there is a great need to consume foods that contain carbohydrates because carbohydrates could help muscle recovery.
Final thoughts
Today, several food recipes are designed for gym rats. But for some, it tends to be difficult to follow due to various factors like accessibility, lack of supply in their area, budget and more. But don’t worry, there are other easy-to-consume foods that you can always count on for a more effective workout. Check out the guide mentioned above for help.