Best 5 Post-Workout Snacks

So you walk in the door from a hard-core, vigorous workout at the gym and the minute you walk past the kitchen, those cravings start up. The fact is that you should be eating a snack or a meal after you workout, depending of course on what time it is when you get home. After a workout, your body needs proper nutrition to repair itself. If you find yourself wondering what the best snack options are after a workout, try these out: Pita & Hummus: This is a great carbohydrate and protein combo! Just ensure you are eating whole wheat pita to get all the nutrients you can. Hummus is extremely healthy for you because it’s ground up chick peas which are a full of proteins. The proper serving for this snack would be approximately ¼ cup of hummus with one whole wheat pita, for a total of about 275-300 calories. Not to mention that hummus is delicious and fun to say! Yogurt & Granola: This is a great way to get your protein and your amino acids level up after a workout to help build up your muscle. Your muscles are lacking both proteins and amino acids after a workout, so the yogurt and granola will help to restore this. Look into the different flavor so yogurt you can get. Nowadays, there are so many different flavours (boston cream pie, lemon meringue pie, tiramisu), that there is bound to be one that you’ll like. Protein Shake: This is a highly debated topic as there are some skeptical views on how to properly take protein shakes. There is much debate about whether you should take it before, during, or after your workout. Here’s the dirt: after a workout, your body is lacking protein and by having a protein shake you are adding much needed protein which your body then turns into energy. The serving size is about 2 scoops of whey protein and you are welcome to add a banana in there as well. Dried Fruit & Nuts: Another great way to get in your needed protein is to snack on dried fruit and nuts. These are the perfect guilt-free snack because they are delicious, yet very healthy and are restoring your protein levels after your workout. Not to mention that they are cheap and available for purchase at a lot of places. The proper amount is to pour yourself ¼ cup of dried fruits and nuts – remember, portion control! To get the healthiest and purest dried fruit and nuts, go to your local health food store. Rice Cakes: Rice cakes are a great post-workout snack because they contain carbohydrates. If you wanted to add more protein to this snack, simply smear on a tablespoon of peanut butter. The other great thing about rice cakes is the fact that they contain very little calories and they fill you up quickly and keep you full. The proper portion of rice cakes to have is 1-2, as one rice cake contains about 30-40 calories. So remember to keep your body energized after a workout and make sure to eat a healthy snack.