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Whether you're a professional athlete or trying to get back in shape, the food you eat before a workout can affect the quality of your training and results. When choosing a meal, opt for items that will give you energy and leave you full but feeling light. Italian food offers many such options for active individuals. Below are three mouth-watering meals to consider.

Delectable Italian Foods to Eat Before Exercising

1. Grilled Chicken Garden Wrap

According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, it's important to eat both carbohydrates and proteins before a workout. A grilled chicken garden wrap provides both. The meat offers a lean protein and B-vitamins, the latter of which help to repair damaged cells and aid in muscle healing. The carbohydrates in the wrap will boost your energy.

2. Tuscan Salad

italian foodA Tuscan salad offers a delicious blend of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, legumes, and olives. While the dish satisfies your taste buds, its nutrient-rich ingredients are useful before a powerful workout. The chickpeas and cannellini beans provide a non-meat-based source of protein, and the mixed greens are a vital source of Vitamin A, which is a nutrient involved in cell growth.

3. Market Salad With Grilled Shrimp

Another smart, pre-workout Italian food is a market salad with grilled shrimp. The meal offers a base of arugula and is topped with cherry tomatoes, walnuts, and portobello mushrooms. In addition to the shrimp, walnuts are also a source of protein, as well as Vitamin E, which has been shown to reduce muscle damage.

 

Living a healthy and active lifestyle should never come at the expense of your taste buds. Before your next gym trip, stop by Emilio's of Morris Park in the Bronx, NY, for any of the items listed above. The restaurant offers a wide variety of freshly prepared Italian foods, from pizza to salads, each made with quality ingredients. Browse the menu online and call (718) 822-6758. For fast and convenient ordering, you can also try Emilio's app — available on Google Play and iTunes.

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