By Christopher R. Mohr, PhD, RD, CSSDAs a sports dietitian, one of the most common questions I get is “What should I eat before and after a workout?”Sometimes the answer depends more on the athlete and his specific activity, but there are some common truths that apply for pre and post workout nutrition, whether you’re a weekend warrior or a seasoned veteran.

Don’t Skip the Carbs

Carbohydrates are fuel for your “engine” (i.e., your muscles). And the harder your engine is working the more carbs you need to keep going.

So you may be asking—how soon before a workout should I eat? The answer? It depends.

As a general rule of thumb, it’s best not to eat immediately before a workout because while your muscles are trying to do their “thing,” your stomach is trying to simultaneously digest the food in your stomach. These competing demands are a challenge for optimal performance. And, even more of a factor, eating too close to a workout may cause you to experience some GI discomfort while you train or play.

Ideally, you should fuel your body about 1-3 hours pre workout, depending on how your body tolerates food. Experiment and see what time frame works best for your body. If you’re a competitive athlete, this is something you need to explore during your training days and not during game day.

Here are some suggestions for pre workout fuel:

• A peanut butter and banana or PBJ sandwich
• Greek yogurt with berries
• Oatmeal with low fat milk and fruit
• Apple and peanut or almond butter
• Handful of nuts and raisins (two parts raisins: one part nuts)

Notice that each of the above includes some protein as well as carbs. Carbs are the fuel. Protein is what rebuilds and repairs, but also “primes the pump” to make the right amino acids available for your muscles. Getting protein and carbs into your system is even more vital post workout.

Post Workout Nutrition

Your body uses stored energy (glycogen) in your muscles to power through your workout or game, but after that workout, you need to replenish the nutrients lost. What to do?

As soon as possible post workout, get carbs and protein immediately into your body. This gives your muscles the ability to replenish the glycogen they just lost through training and helps your tired muscles rebuild and repair with the available protein and amino acids.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Spokesperson Christine Gerbstadt, MD, MPH, RD, CSSD suggests fueling within 15 to 20 minutes post training with a 3:1 ratio of carbohydrate and protein for optimal muscle repair and recovery, eating a regular mixed meal 3 to 4 hours after.

Post workout meals include:

• Post-workout recovery smoothie (or post-workout smoothie made with low-fat milk and fruit)
• Low fat chocolate milk
• Turkey on a whole grain wrap with veggies
• Yogurt with berries

Personally, I like the first two and almonds (not listed above); because they’re liquid and also help rehydrate the body.