Healthy Pre-Workout Snacks: A healthy pre-workout meal enables the body to convert glycogen into glucose, which enhances muscle contraction and eases workout sessions.

Fitness enthusiasts always focus on what to eat before and after their workout sessions to maintain their overall body and fitness. Consuming foods rich in vital nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, protein, fibre, healthy fats and others is incredibly important for people who remain physically active throughout the day. Eating healthy snacks before hitting the gym prepares the body to maximise performance and recovery, and fuels the body with the right kind and amounts of nutrients. A healthy pre-workout meal enables the body to convert glycogen into glucose, which enhances muscle contraction and eases workout sessions. In an Instagram post, Dr Loveneet Batra, an award winning nutritionist shared some healthy pre-workout snack ideas that you can consume without the guilt of gaining extra calories or weight.

Healthy Pre-Workout Snacks

1. Banana Smoothie

According to Dr Batra, banana smoothies are great pre-workout foods because they may help keep you full due to the presence of resistant starch or pectin. Also, bananas are packed with potassium, a mineral that aids in maintaining nerve and muscle function, and carbs, which give you the energy needed to complete your sweat session.

2. Sweet Potato Chaat

Sweet potatoes are incredibly nutritious foods and a great choice for the winter season. As a great source of complex carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index, sweet potatoes are one of the best forms of carbs for sustainable, slow-releasing energy throughout an intense workout.

3. Low Sugar Cereal With Milk

Always incorporate foods with low sugar content into your pre-workout meals as excessive sugar may cause a spike in blood sugar levels. You can consume low-sugar cereal with meals as your pre-workout snacks to give your body a good dose of nutrients and energy.

4. Black Coffee + Banana

Dr Batra suggests that you can give your workout an extra boost by having 1 cup of black coffee before you hit the gym. This popular drink has been linked to greater strength, power, and endurance during a workout. A banana makes the perfect pre-workout snack because it is easy to digest and provides a good amount of potassium, an electrolyte that gets depleted when you sweat during physical exertion.

5. Whole Grain Bread + Peanut Butter

Eating peanut butter spread on whole grain butter is an extraordinary snack for your pre-workout nourishment. It is an excellent fuel for strength training with a mix of good fats, protein and carbs.

6. Green Smoothies

Another healthy pre-workout snack you can binge on is green smoothies. Pick any green leafy vegetable such as spinach, broccoli etc and prepare a delicious flavoured smoothie. Green smoothies are excellent for digestive health, provide a nutritional boost, and increase stamina and immunity.

7. Coconut Water

According to Dr Batra, coconut water is the perfect beverage for restoring hydration and replenishing electrolytes lost during exercise. Plus, coconut water is packed with potassium, which ensures you do not start cramping mid-workout.