Your pre-workout snack can influence how you feel both during and after you train. If you’ve ever had a workout where you lost steam shortly into it or you experienced indigestion, chances are you didn’t have the best pre-work snack.
Trying to exercise without fueling correctly is like driving a car when the gas tank is empty, it just doesn’t work!
Fueling yourself with a balanced pre-workout snack provides you with longer-lasting energy to get you through your workout. This leads to a more enjoyable workout and bigger results.
But, what’s the best pre-workout snack to eat before you train - carbs or protein? Well, both are equally important! Both carbs and protein serve an important purpose for physical activity.
A pre-workout snack with complex carbs gives you that initial fuel and quick boost of energy to get into your training, and protein helps to rebuild and repair your muscles as they are working.
Getting protein in your pre-workout snack is especially important when you are planning on strength training.
Protein-containing foods are broken down into smaller parts called amino acids when they are digested. These amino acids provide direct energy to your muscles.
Ideally, your pre-workout snack should contain around 5-10 grams of protein and 15 grams of carb.
To give enough time to digest, I suggest having your pre-workout snack 45-60 minutes prior to getting started.
Here are 6 of the best pre-workout snack ideas that will make you feel on top of the world during your workouts.
Best Pre-Workout Snack Ideas #1: Chomps Original Beef Jerky
CHOMPS Original Beef Jerky Sticks are some of the best pre-workout snacks. Our delicious beef jerky provides 10 grams of protein per stick and only 100 calories. This is the perfect combination for someone looking for longer-lasting energy from protein.
If it’s been more than an hour since you ate a meal, pair this pre-workout snack with a small handful of dried fruit for a bit of quick-digesting carbs.
Best Pre-Workout Snack Ideas #2: Peanut Butter & Toast
A slice of whole wheat toast with peanut butter is another one of our favorite pre-workout snack ideas. The complex carbs from the bread give you both a short and long-term energy boost, as they are slowly digested in your body.
The peanut butter provides 5 grams of protein per serving to help fuel your muscles before your workout.
Best Pre-Workout Snack Ideas #3: Apple with Almond Butter
As one of the best pre-workout snack ideas, an apple with almond butter provides the ideal combo of protein and carbs needed for sustained energy. The apple is a source of carbs that converts to energy, and the almond butter is the protein source.
Best Pre-Workout Snack Ideas #4: Greek Yogurt with Berries
Greek yogurt is the ultimate pre-workout snack - both high in protein and convenient. Sprinkle in a small handful of berries for a carb boost, and choose plain yogurt to limit added sugars.
Best Pre-Workout Snack Ideas #5: Nuts with Dried Fruit
Portion out a handful of nuts and dried fruit for another easy pre-workout snack. The nuts provide slow-releasing high quality protein, while the dried fruit provides quick-digesting carbs for that initial energy boost needed.
Since nuts are calorie-dense, stick with a small handful for portion control.
Best Pre-Workout Snack Ideas #6: Chomps Italian-Style Beef Chomplings
Our Italian-Style Beef Chomplings come with the same delicious taste as our Regular Chomps products, but are packed into a mini-sized stick!
As one of the best pre-workout snack ideas, they provide 4 grams of grass-fed protein per serving and contain just 40 calories. Pair a chompling with a handful of dried fruit for the perfect protein and carb combo!
The Final Word About Our Best Pre-Workout Snack Ideas
Staying properly fueled with the best pre-workout snacks (and post workout snacks) will keep your energy levels steady, so you experience amazing results.
Whether you’re following a keto diet, paleo diet, or are currently on the Whole 30 Challenge, our CHOMPS products are naturally a good source of protein, sugar-free, and low in calories.
With up to 12g of protein and under 100 calories, CHOMPS is an ideal pre-workout snack, especially if you’re watching your weight. Shop the store to view all meat stick products and see what are the best pre-workout snack ideas for you.
