Heading into an off-season? Should you adjust how you fuel your body? Read on for 7 nutrition tips to help you optimize your off-season -- so you come back stronger, healthier and more ready than ever to tackle a new training block/goal!
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Ever wonder why you feel hungrier on a rest or recovery day? More often than not, it has something to do with how you fueled before, during and after a hard workout or long run. Under-fueling – especially on long run or hard workout days – can lead to the feeling of being ravenous on rest or recovery days because your body is essentially catching up with itself.
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Are you looking for a snack that satisfies the runner hangries? You know what I'm talking about - that sudden urge to eat everything in sight and you must have it now before you snap your [insert friend, teammate, coworker, significant other or random stranger]. If it's been 3-4 hours and you haven't eaten something and have no plans for a meal in the near future, then follow my 3 tips for a snack that satisfies the hangry monster! ⠀
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There’s a famous saying - you’re only as good as the plan you follow - or something along those lines. I wholeheartedly agree. Do you have a plan going into each week for what you’ll eat? Do you include any meal prep? Don’t think you have the time? Guess what? You probably do and it takes less time then you think. Before I dive into a couple tips on how to meal plan/prep, let’s talk about why you should even bother.
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Do you eat before you workout? Whether it's a long run, interval workout or easy day, you aren't getting the most out of it if you are exercising on empty. Over the next couple of blog posts I am going to cover how to fuel pre-workout for various types of workouts. Up first: the long run!
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Listening to your hunger is important. Being mindful about what and when you eat is also important. And both are things I work with clients on all the time. As runners and endurance athletes, we have different needs than the general public. Sometimes we need to eat when we aren't hungry to get the most out of our training. Let me say that again: it's OK - and often even necessary - to eat when you aren't hungry.
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On Monday (which consequently was also National Pumpkin Day) I posted some of my favorite pumpkin recipes to social media and asked which you’d most like me to share the recipe for. And here it is! These pumpkin muffins have been a go-to recipe for me so far this fall and make a great pre-workout snack or addition to my breakfast. To me they taste like fall. I hope you enjoy!
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One of the most common conundrums runners face is stomach – or gastrointestinal (GI) – distress mid run. It doesn’t happen to everyone – and is highly specific – but I have had way more complaints of inability to eat before, during or after a run due to an upset tummy or fear of having to use the bathroom mid run. Why does it happen? And is there anything you can do to combat it?
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We all need rest days. Some more than others. They help our bodies recover from the work we put in day after day as well as allow us to go harder, faster, and longer in the days following. But do we need to eat the same on a rest day as we do on a training day?
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Hands down the macro-nutrient I get asked the most questions about is protein. Some of the most common include whether or not all sources are created equal? If timing really matters? And are current recommended amounts enough to support optimal health? So for today’s blog post, I thought I’d go ahead and answer some of the most common questions I get about this important nutrient to help clear some confusion. Here goes!
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It is darn right steamy in Chicagoland today (and by the looks of things for a while to come). I don’t know about you, but when the temps creep up, the last thing I want to do is spend a ton of time cooking or eat a steaming hot bowl of pasta. But we still need to eat! Here’s a quick dinner or lunch solution that’s packed with high quality protein, carbs and flavor.
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When the temps start to heat up, my mind always turns to hydration. It can literally make or break your work out. In fact, it can be a major contributing factor to a race day DNF or PR– whether it be from over- or under-hydrating. Making sure you are sufficiently hydrated will also get you to the finish line feeling good. Your goal? Start and finish adequately hydrated.
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During these unprecedented times, you may find yourself craving comfort foods. And while you may not always feel like eating them, you also need to consume nutrient rich foods (like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats) to help support your immune system so that it can operate at its best – especially if it is called upon to defend against a common cold, the flu, seasonal allergies or even the coronavirus.
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Check out this video of me explaining one of my favorite topics: the 3 R’s of post-workout recovery nutrition. That includes Refueling our glycogen stores (with carbs), Re-hydrating (with fluids) and Repairing our muscles (with protein). Check it out and let me know what you think!
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We’ve made it to the final post in my series on stocking your kitchen during the quarantine. Today’s post is all about the dairy and meat departments and includes a link to download my master grocery list. Last, but certainly not least, is recipe idea #4 - a sweet treat because couldn’t we all use more cookies in our life right now? Let’s dive in!
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Alright here it is! My pantry list for runners! These are things we have all the time in our pantry. They make meal prep, batch cooking and recipe making that much easier. Some of the items have specific benefits for runners which I’ve tried to include, whereas other items are just good old-fashioned staple foods to always make sure you have in stock in the event of something like the current state of affairs happens.
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A couple of weeks ago I asked on Instagram which recipe would be more appealing for me to share: Chicken Tortilla Soup or Gumbo. The verdict? Chicken Tortilla Soup. So here’s a healthier take on a classic soup that’s simple to make (thanks to the crock-pot) and is filled with protein and fiber and is topped with crispy tortilla chips. Enjoy!
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Let’s face it: salads can be downright boring. And difficult to adequately fuel hungry endurance athletes. But they don’t have to be. A salad can be an easy way to get in a ton of nutrients from colorful veggies and lean protein. Follow these 5 tips to build a better salad that not only provides tons of nutrition but satisfies!
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Today’s post is going to be a little more personal and less nutrition-y. But I think it’s relevant and may help those of you on both the nutrition and training front. If you follow me on social media, you know that this past Saturday I ran the F^3 half marathon here in Chicago. It’s truly one of my favorite races as you never know what you’ll get from the weather (I mean a half marathon in the middle of January in Chicago), the Chicago running community comes out in full force for it and it’s a great course - starting and ending at Soldier Field
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These pancakes are delicious treat that are easy to whip up and ready in no time. They also contain protein and carbohydrates great for post-workout recovery nutrition. Top with additional sliced banana and some walnuts for crunch and a healthy dose of good-for-you fat and you’ve got a stack that’ll stick with you and satisfy.
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