Every workout offers you the chance to strengthen your body and boost your self-confidence. While it might seem difficult to reach your fitness goals, the food you eat before a workout can help. Here are a few pre-workout foods that you should consume for an optimal workout, and how having the right pantry items and fresh produce on hand can help. 

Great Foods to Eat as Pre-Workout

1. Peanut Butter 

Packed with natural, plant-based protein, peanut butter is easy to keep on hand and can be eaten alone or with fresh produce like apple slices, bananas, or celery sticks. Fitness experts recommend eating peanut butter on whole-grain bread about an hour before your workout to fuel your body with energy-creating carbohydrates and muscle-building protein. Try consuming a serving of peanut butter before high-power workouts, such as high-intensity interval training or weightlifting.

2. Bananas 

Bananas are portable, easy to digest, and contain helpful nutrients like potassium, which is lost when you sweat. Additionally, since the natural sugar from bananas enters your bloodstream quickly, they can be eaten about 30 minutes before your workout to give you a boost of energy. Since bananas are so effective at replacing lost electrolytes, they are ideal to consume before hot workouts, such as outdoor bike rides, or hikes. 

3. Avocados 

Whether you love guacamole or avocado toast with a sprinkle of lime and sesame seeds, these delicious savory fruits are packed with heart-healthy fats and vitamin B. The natural carbohydrates in avocados give you energy for your workout, while the vitamin B helps your body assimilate the carbohydrates you eat during the day, improving your endurance.

Try to consume avocados about an hour before workouts like cardio or low-intensity energy training. Keep in mind that fresh produce like avocados may need a few days to ripen, so check the firmness of avocados daily, and cut them open when they are slightly soft to the touch. 

If you are gearing up to maximize your workout routine and you need to grab some fresh produce, turn to Cranberry Country Market in Tomah, WI. With a focus on fresh local produce, baked breads, and gourmet meats and cheeses, you can find everything you need to enjoy delicious meals from home. Learn more about their commitment to quality by visiting their website, or give the store a call at (608) 374-4944.