Paleo Athlete Snacks

Paleo Athlete Snacks: Fuel for Training

Most of you know that I'm a big fan of 'Paleo', 'Caveman', or 'Primal' nutrition! My personal favorite pre-race meal is 'poop pudding' - organic applesauce with mixed berries blended in with either whey (not perfect) protein, or a couple of eggs. I will substitute a Honey Stinger protein bar with a banana or some poop pudding if it's an early-morning race. This is by Nell Stephenson: Being an endurance athlete myself, I can promise firsthand that it does! It will require more preparation since you're not likely to find baked yams with salt in your local mart. You'll fare much better in your training, racing and recovering than if you were to default to the commonly available sports bars, made with whey, grains and all sorts of other "interesting" non-Paleo food ingredients. The following are some of my favorites. For a complete listing of why these are favorites, review sections on what to eat before, during and after training around the time of a training session in The Paleo Diet For Athletes. Natural, unsweetened applesauce with plain egg white protein powder and a sprinkle of salt Baked yam with hard-boiled egg whites (I'll give the yolks to the dogs as I prefer a light meal of protein and carbs only if workout session is going to follow immediately and I don't have time to digest the fat) and again, a touch of table salt Bananas - either fresh or sliced, and then frozen. There's not a time I enjoy a banana more than after a workout session! Pineapple - again, right after a workout is a perfect time for this fruit. Pineapple (and papaya and mango) contain bromelain, an enzyme that aids in digestion and helps to settle the stomach. That's quite handy for those hard sessions when you've pushed your limits, and ended up feeling a touch of nausea! Dried fruit - the best time to eat this higher-in-sugar snack is right after a session when your muscles are screaming for carbohydrate to repair and refuel for your next session. Cantaloupe - a great source of potassium, even higher than bananas! Finally, I can't omit the essential: the recovery drink recommended in Paleo For Athletes, "Homebrew." It's superior to anything you're going to find commercially available, and it contains fruit, protein and salt. You'll never tire of it, as you can always vary which fruits you use to keep it interesting. If you haven't committed to being 100% Paleo for fear that it won't support your athletic endeavors, again, I promise you, it will. Train Hard Paleo Athletes!