Everywhere you look, you will see gobs of snack ideas and recipes for pre-workout snacks. However, not all of those ideas are suitable for the vegan athlete. Fueling your body with the proper nutrients is especially important before a big workout. Here are ten vegan pre-workout snacks that will propel you into overdrive the next time you hit the gym.
1 Vegan raw chocolate pudding
This one takes some advance preparation, but it is well worth it. It is creamy, dreamy, delicious, and healthy too. Thanks to the raw cacao powder, banana, and avocado, it has the perfect amount of sweetness along with a sublime texture that only tastes sinful.
To make it, take 1 large ripe banana, 2 ripe avocados, 1/2 cup of unsweetened cocoa (or cacao) powder, 1/2 cup of organic peanut butter, and either 4 pitted dates or 2 tablespoons of pure maple syrup and put these all in your food processor. Blend until it becomes smooth and creamy. Add dairy-free milk to adjust the consistency to your liking. Divide this into portions to chill for a few hours or overnight.
2 Roasted chickpeas
Chickpeas are plentiful in fiber, protein, and antioxidants. Plus, they are full of taste too. You can roast them for a fun, crunchable snack that is healthy. You will need 2 cans of chickpeas and 2 tablespoons of olive oil at the very basic. You can season them in savory or sweet ways. However, if you choose to make them, you will want to bake them in a preheated oven at 375F for 45 to 60 minutes.
3 Dried fruit
Dried fruits make for some of the best pre-workout fuel for vegan bodies. Whether you choose dried apricots, berries, pineapple, raisins, or dates, keep it to a 1/4 cup serving. You can also make your own dried fruit mix. When you purchase dried fruits, make sure they are all natural and do not contain any added sugar.
4 Green monster smoothie
This smoothie will really pump you up and have you ready to rock. You will need 1 cup of coconut milk, 1 loosely packed cup of washed spinach leaves, 1 cup of loosely packed and washed kale with the stems removed, 1/2 cup of fresh pineapple or mango, 1 frozen banana, 1/2 cup of ice cubes and 1/2 cup of water. Fill your blender with these items, putting the coconut milk in first. Blend until smooth and enjoy!
5 Fruit with nut butter
Apples or bananas are both great vessels for slathering in nut butter. The carbs from the fruit plus the healthy fats and proteins from the nut butter will give you all the energy you need for your workout.
Read also – 3 Effective Approaches for People Who Are Obsessed with Food
6 Tabbouleh salad
Tabbouleh salad, or parsley salad, is brimming with all kinds of healthfulness. It is high in vitamins C and A as well as iron and manganese. You can often find it premade in the supermarket deli section, but it is just as easy to make your own.
To make it, you will need 2 bunches of finely chopped fresh parsley, 4 large finely chopped tomatoes, juice from 3 freshly squeezed lemons, 5 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 cup of bulgur (cracked wheat), 1 cup of boiled water, and salt and pepper to taste. You will mix the bulgur and the hot water together and cover with a towel to trap the steam.
Let it cool. Add the parsley and tomatoes to a large bowl. Pour the lemon juice over the parsley and tomatoes, then add olive oil, salt, and pepper. Mix it well and then add it to the cooled bulgur and you will have tabbouleh.
7 Oatmeal
It is a classic pre-workout choice for anyone, but it is a vegan-friendly one. To give it more complexity and flavors, just add ground flax or chia seeds. You can also add in your favorite fresh fruits for an even bigger hit of energy.
8 Whole grain toast
Toast up a slice of whole grain bread. Then, add a little avocado or even almond butter to take on more sustained energy. If you are in a hurry to your workout, though, skip the toppings and just enjoy the toast because the avocado and almond butter will make it take more time to digest.
9 Baked sweet potatoes
It is a superfood choice for runners, so why not for vegans too? Sweet potatoes are a complex carb, plus they have tons of vitamins and minerals. With a teensy sprinkle of cinnamon, they taste heavenly.
10 Hummus
Hummus has plenty of protein, iron, carbs and antioxidants. And it does not hurt that it tastes great. Chop up some sticks of your favorite veggies to dip into it and you will reap all the benefits of your workout. Red peppers are one of the best choices because of its high vitamin C content, which helps you absorb all that iron from the hummus. Now that is a superfood.
Read also – 10 Healthy Fiber-Rich Foods
Don’t go to the gym hungry again. Make sure you eat foods like these to stabilize your blood sugar and give you the necessary nutrients to accomplish your fitness goals. Do you have a favorite pre-workout vegan snack? Tell us all about it!
Photo: pinterest.com
