Running is great in so many ways it helps in reliving stress, engages your muscles and improves your overall health. It is also a very easy way to connect with nature and get up and move! But what you eat takes a huge part on how your running performance will be. For some it may seem IMPOSSIBLE to run and not eat meat because WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR PROTEIN?! Well actually it is really simple you just have to be eating healthy carbohydrates, getting the proper protein and hydrating yourself ! BUT WHERE DO I GET IT FROM? Is a very easy question to answer! As a runner who follows a vegan lifestyle I will be sharing my favorite foods to eat the night before, in the morning and after a run/race. Dinner // night before a race/run
The night before I like to have something with lots of carbohydrates and protein. So I like to have a lentil soup with veggies and potatoes in it. Also a sweet potato with rice and lettuce is a great way to carb up the night before!
Breakfast // before a race/run
In the morning I first like to drink a glass of lemon water. To eat I like to have a bowl of oatmeal with chia seeds, frozen blueberries, cashews and a little bit of almond milk. I usually eat an hour and a half before running just so my digestion can take it but if I get a little bit more hungry I usually have dried fruit and nuts. While running it is good to pack small snacks in a little bag just to have whenever you feel like your energy is running low.
Also having a bowl of fresh fruit or a smoothie before a run/race serves as a great light snack.
Lunch // Post race / run
After a race/ run it is very important to fuel your body because you just burned off a lot of calories that you need to restore. I sometimes like to have the same thing I had for dinner or I like to have a huge bowl of pasta with frozen veggies and spinach. Or also Brown rice with leafy greens and a Japanese sweet potatoes.
Hydrating yourself: Drink lots of water, coconut water or ( add lemon, blueberries, raspberries, mint leaves) or anything you want into your water to change things up and get even more beneficial nutrients.
Snacks: Lara bars, cliff bars, fresh fruits, dried fruits and nuts or even an acai bowl after a run/race.
