It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of them all. Though most people are aware of this adage, the average person usually ends up quickly scarfing down some toast and coffee on their way out the door to work. Others skip breakfast altogether, opting for brunch or lunch. However, if you exercise in the morning, it is imperative you eat a healthy breakfast that fuels your body for a physical challenge. Let’s take a look at the best foods to eat before your morning run or other workout.
A Fresh and Nutritious Smoothie
Making a nutritious breakfast really is as easy as popping some fresh fruit in a blender along with a few other ingredients. The best breakfast smoothie ahead of a morning workout should feature bananas, peanut butter and yogurt. Peanut butter and banana both contain protein and carbohydrates that will boost your energy while helping your muscles withstand the rigors of exercise. Yogurt contains the calcium necessary to keep your bones strong. Mix in some berries for antioxidants along with protein powder for even more muscle support and you will be ready for a grueling morning workout or run.
A Healthy Breakfast Sandwich
It is a mistake to drive on over to the local fast food joint for a greasy breakfast sandwich prior to your morning run. However, this is not to say you have to strictly consume an uber-healthy vegan breakfast every single morning. The better option is to cook up some eggs and jam them between two slices of wheat or multigrain toast. Ideally you will add some avocado to the breakfast sandwich for additional protein and the “good fat.”
Whole wheat toast provides complex carbohydrates that bolster your energy level prior to and during your morning run. The eggs are loaded with minerals, vitamins and even more protein to help your muscles recover from the stress of the workout. Consider slapping on a piece of ham for extra taste and/or spinach to boost your iron intake.
Porridge
Yes, you read that right – porridge. If you are thinking of a young English boy holding out an empty soup bowl in front of an adult, asking “Please sir, may I have some more?”, you are not alone. Though porridge is certainly an old-fashioned food that harkens back to simpler times, it is the ideal breakfast prior to a morning workout. Porridge oats are uber-healthy, containing 70% carbohydrates sure to fuel your body properly for a morning run. However, plain porridge won’t taste that great by itself. Be sure to add dried fruit, agave or honey to enhance the taste.
A Healthy Protein Bar
Healthy is the operative word with this pre-run breakfast. Do not be deceived by the marketing efforts of the many companies behind the seemingly endless number of protein bars on the market. Though plenty of these protein bars are touted as healthy, many are better suited for dessert as opposed to breakfast. Find a protein bar loaded with just that – protein that helps your muscles remain strong and recover properly after a grueling morning workout.
Take a close look at the list of ingredients of the breakfast bar you have in mind to see if they begin with high-fructose corn syrup, fructose or another variation of sugar. If so, bypass it in favor of a truly effective protein bar with hemp protein, whey and/or pea protein toward the top of the ingredients list.
