16 Pre-Workout Snacks That Will Give Your Body Energy

Getting in a good workout is key for staying healthy and fit. But if you’re not eating properly before you work out, you may be hindering your performance. Most trainers and fitness experts recommend a pre-workout snack about an hour before you work out to improve your energy and endurance during your exercise routine. But what do you eat? And what should you avoid?

The first thing to avoid (while not a food) is eating immediately before a workout. You need time to digest. If you eat a smaller snack you can probably wait 30 minutes to an hour, but if you choose to have a meal before working out it’s best that you wait at least two hours before starting physical activity.

Before we get to what you should eat, let’s discuss what you shouldn’t. You’ll want to avoid foods that are high in fat and fiber, which can lead to gastrointestinal issues, as well as sugar substitutes.

Foods to avoid include:

• Anything greasy

• Anything super high in fat

• Alcohol

• Too much caffeine

• Creamy (or too much) pasta

• Soda or other carbonated drinks

• Baked goods, added sugar or artificial sweeteners

• Too much fiber (read food labels and steer clear of loading up on veggies too close to your workout)

• Dairy (if you are lactose intolerant)

• Foods containing sugar alcohols (high protein bars, low-carb snack foods)

Instead, you should choose pre-workout snacks that will help nourish your body and push you through the toughest workouts. Carbs and protein are best. Protein helps build and repair muscles. While carbs get broken down into glucose (the energy your body uses during exercise) or are stored as glycogen, which your body also taps into during exercise.

Here are 16 of the best pre-workout snacks to consider munching on before exercise.

1. Banana

2. Oatmeal with nuts

3. Greek yogurt with berries

4. Protein shake/smoothie

5. Apple with nut butter

6. Hard boiled egg with whole grain toast

7. Low-sugar chocolate milk

8. Cottage cheese and fruit

9. Hummus and carrots

10. No-bake energy balls

11. Chia pudding

12. Chicken

13. Rice cake with nut butter

14. Dried fruit and mixed nuts

15. Turkey sandwich

16. Eggs and whole grain toast