Many athletes and their families find that eating well during a busy week can be a challenging task. However, with a few ideas and a little prep time, you can easily fuel your body so that you are energized and motivated for all of your training, competitions and other activities by providing affordable meals to make at home in under five minutes.
If you need a snack that will sustain you for over two hours, eat foods from at least three different food groups, making sure that one of those foods is a good source of protein. Examples: granola and fresh berries in Greek yogurt; tuna with whole grain crackers and grapes.
Producing fast food from home isn’t as hard as you’d think. It’s easy to prepare 5-minute meals if your kitchen is well-stocked. Here’s five you could try, on the fly.
Affordable Meals to make at Home:
>> Turkey and cheese sandwich
>> Peanut butter and sliced apple in a whole wheat tortilla
>> Oatmeal with nuts, dried apples and milk
>> Chicken, cheese and bean quesadilla
>> Canned beans and leftover chicken added to canned soup
Additional Tips:
Schedule time to do food prep. You’ll thank yourself later when you’re able to whip up a meal in minutes.
Make a casserole or other main dish and store it in single-serving portions. Put them in the freezer for a later date.
Snacks That Satisfy:
Keep these ready-to-eat foods on hand for a quick snack:
Mozzarella cheese sticks
Cottage cheese
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Yogurt and Greek yogurt
Tuna
Milk
Hard-boiled eggs
Graham crackers
Natural peanut butter or other nut butters
Nuts and dried fruits
Granola bars (<10 grams sugar)
Hot and cold cereals
Crackers (>3 grams fiber)
Maximize your performance by seeking out personalized advice from Nutrition Coach Jill Daniels, MS, RD, CSSD, Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. www.JillDanielsRD.com