5 Great Breakfast Ideas to Help Your Workout

5 Great Breakfast Ideas to Help Your Workout

There’s no doubt that our bodies need high-quality fuel in order to run properly. Nutrition is key to reaching various fitness goals, and this is especially true when it comes to breakfast.

The first and most important meal of the day, breakfast is an essential component of a healthy morning routine. What you incorporate into your early bird meal will largely influence your ability to perform to your maximum potential, and if you start your day with a workout, coming up with an ideal breakfast combo becomes all the more important. To help you out, we’re listing 5 great breakfast ideas to inspire your morning and help your workout.

1. If you’re looking to lose weight…

Many of us tend to reach for a cup of coffee first thing in the a.m. The thing is, our favorite caffeinated beverages are often loaded with calories. While that skinny caramel macchiato may sound appealing, a cup of green tea will give you the same energy buzz sans unnecessary add-ons.

Then, fill your plate with one or two eggs, and don’t just eat the whites but the whole thing. Yolks are rich sources of protein needed to fill you up, so definitely don’t skip them. You can have them hard-boiled, scrambled, baked, or made into a healthy egg combo such as a veggie omelette. To complete your weight loss breakfast, add a cup of berries (e.g. raspberries), or go for an apple. With this delicious breakfast meal, you’ll be taking in less than 250kcal while simultaneously loading up on good-for-you fiber and protein.

2. If you’re on the go…

Calorie-packed but energy and nutrient-poor foods are all too easy to reach for when you need to head to the gym in the morning with your stomach rumbling. On-the-go meals are a godsend for those mornings when eating on the run is your only option.

Go for low-sugar cereals, and make sure they contain whole grains and are rich in fiber. Then, grab some dried fruits such as cranberries or raisins, and top the mixture off with nuts (almonds or peanuts). Pour a cup of mixture into your Ziploc bags, and voila – you’ve got single servings of a healthy mix. You can also get low-fat milk on your way to the gym to complete the meal.

3. If you skip breakfast often…

Many of us tend to skip the most important meal of the day due to the inconvenience that’s often associated with making a healthy breakfast. In reality, there are numerous ways to make pre-workout breakfasts more convenient.

Nowadays, there are brands such as Naked Foods that you can turn to as a source of organic health foods and make your mornings go a lot smoother. Whether we’re talking about healthy tahini spreads, almond butter, paleo granola, or even veganola, getting your hands on convenient and healthy foods is now easier than ever, and you can have these delivered, too. Use these ingredients to make everything from mini breakfast bites to delicious smoothie bowls and start the day with a dose of vitamins and minerals.

4. If you’ll be taking a late lunch…

There are times when your pre-workout breakfast needs to be more filling so that it lasts you longer, and this is certainly true when it comes to late lunches. To prevent those annoying stomach rumblings before lunchtime, aim for breakfasts that are rich in protein and slow-digesting fiber.

To get your protein, opt for a low-fat or fat-free Greek yogurt. As for the fiber, go for cereals that contain 5 grams of fiber per serving. Top things off with some blueberries, either frozen or fresh. Keep in mind that, despite the health claims, many boxed, whole-grain cereals can be high in sugar, and while they may ward off hunger for a bit longer, they aren’t as healthy as some other options out there.

5. If you’re still full from last night…

Last but not least, we’ve all had those mornings when we woke up and still felt full from the last night. If you had a larger meal for dinner, your pre-workout breakfast needs to be lighter than usual. Go for a piece of fruit such as a banana.

Ideally, you’ll eat breakfast as soon as you get up – within the first hour or so. And next time, make sure to eat at least two hours before bedtime so that everything is digested in the morning.

Wrapping up

A morning workout routine is an ideal way to kickstart your day, especially when fueled by a powerful, energizing, and – most importantly – convenient pre-workout breakfast. Use the ideas above as an inspiration to power up your breakfasts and make your a.m. workouts more effective while also reaping a variety of other great benefits for the rest of the day.

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