Best Natural Pre-Workout Foods You Can Make at Home

A healthy pre-workout meal is fuel for your workout. Natural pre-workout foods are important because they give your body the energy to train through your exercise session, building endurance, strength, and focus. The primary goal of pre-workout nutrition is to ensure that your body has a steady energy supply. You can effectively improve your workout performance by ensuring having these macronutrients in your meal or food. There are many healthy pre-workout meals that you can prepare at home without much hassle.

In this article, you will discover the best pre-workout foods you can eat before working out. Before heading to find easy pre-workout meals let's find out why pre-workout meals are important for your body.

Reasons to Eat Healthy Pre-Workout Meals Before A Workout

Here are some of the reasons you want to fuel your body with natural pre-workout foods to smash your fitness potential:

Provides Energy

Our body uses carbohydrates stored in the body as the first source of fuel.  This is because they can be converted into energy faster than protein and fat. Therefore, filling up your glycogen stores pre-workout will mean you'll have more energy to perform at your best.

Increase Muscle Growth

A good pre-workout meal will boost your glycogen stores, and along with that, by eating a good source of protein, you can have an anabolic environment in your body, which promotes muscle building.

Prevent Muscle Breakdown

When you indulge in a heavy workout, your glycogen stores get depleted, and your body looks for a new source of energy. By breaking down muscle, the body can utilise protein in the form of amino acids for energy. This puts our bodies into a catabolic state, meaning that the muscle tissue is being broken down, which can prevent muscle growth and recovery.

Healthy Pre-Workout Foods to Eat Before Exercise

These are the easiest to make pre-workout meals with a good mix of fibre, carbs, and protein.

Porridge and Oatmeal

Porridge is a great pre-workout meal as it contains complex carbs and is a great source of soluble fibre and beta-glucan. Having oats at least 2 hours before your workout can satisfy your hunger and will be a great source of slow-releasing energy. You can also add a scoop of protein powder or peanut butter to get an added source of protein and amino acids.

Omelette

Omelette is the most popular pre-workout meal for energy. Eggs are a great source of protein, amino acids, and a certain amount of fats. You can make a whole egg omelette or can make an egg white omelette, which is great for muscle-building. Try having the omelette at least 2-3 hours before a workout to avoid muscle catabolism and promote muscle growth.

Fruit Smoothies

Fruit smoothies are super healthy and great in taste. Consuming smoothies is the easiest to include fruits for pre-workout. Fruit smoothies do provide a series of micro-nutrients, but they are high in calories and sugar.  However, consuming a fruit smoothie pre-workout is a great meal option that can provide you with a good source of fast-acting glucose. Add some protein powder to maximise the benefits of your pre-workout smoothie.

Chicken, Rice & Vegetables

Chicken, rice and vegetables are classic foods to eat before exercise. This complete meal is a good source of lean protein and carbs. This meal also provides amino acids to promote muscle growth and slow release of energy.

Peanut Butter Sandwich

Take whole wheat or multigrain bread for the sandwich. If calories are your concern, you can have peanut butter with brown bread. Having this will make you feel full and will provide you with added energy.

Homemade Protein Bar

If baking is not a problem for you, you can make your protein bars that are easy to make and a good pre-workout food. Baking at home allows you to control the content, making bars that are high in carbohydrates and protein or low in carbohydrates and high in protein. You can add everything from nuts and seeds to dried fruit and a sprinkle of chocolate — watch the sugar content.

Protein Shakes

If you are in a hurry and do not have time to prepare a pre-workout meal for energy, then a quick protein shake can solve your nutrient problem. A good shake will have quality nutrients such as BCAAs, carbs, and protein.  

Consume your protein shake at least half to one hour before your workout so that you get all your required nutrients.

Conclusion

Natural pre-workout foods are key in optimising your performance, whether you are looking to lose weight or gain some muscles. So, choosing the best pre-workout foods can significantly improve your energy levels and overall workout effectiveness. Have these easy pre-workout food options before your high-intensity training to achieve your peak performance. There are so many tasty options out there, so be creative and keep yourself motivated with the many delicious dishes to fuel your workout the right way.

However, if you are one of those who don't have time to prepare a meal, try pre-workout supplements to get the required nutrients.

For all your pre-workout and supplement needs, visit The Nutrition Hut (TNH).

TNH is the leading supplement store in Delhi; get all your supplements online and offline at The Nutrition Hut.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Do you really need pre-workout food?

A1: Yes, having pre-workout food is good because it will give you the required energy and nutrients to power up in the gym.

Q2: What is the most natural pre-workout food?

A2: Caffeine, dark chocolate, eggs, oatmeal, and peanut butter are some of the natural pre-workout foods.

Q3: Are pre-workout supplements safe for a kidney?

A3: Most pre-workouts are safe to consume once a day. Consume pre-workout as recommended.

Q4: Can I eat fruits for pre-workout?

A4: Yes, you can eat fruits for pre-workout. Fruits are a good source of energy, nutrients, and hydration. Some fruits that are good for pre-workout are mangoes, bananas, apples, etc.

Q5: Where can I buy the best pre-workout supplements?

A5: The Nutrition Hut (TNH) offers you 100% genuine and quality-approved pre-workouts that are safe to consume. 

Also Read:
How to Choose the Right Pre-Workout Supplement?