This weekend, my mom and I drove to Ohio for my cousin Jordan’s high school graduation. Friday afternoon, as we were heading out the door, my mom decided to grab a snack for the road. After rummaging through the kitchen for a few minutes, she decided to grab a Clif bar. She also grabbed a bag of my Jelly Belly Sport Beans even after I warned her that they were not designed for road trip consumption, but for endurance training. Nevertheless she took them anyway and a few hours later I heard her say, “These have such a weird after-taste!” Duh. That’s because they’re full of carbohydrates and electrolytes to give endurance athletes a quick energy boost during long training runs (or rides).
This little encounter showed me that most people have no idea what foods they should eat during training. While everyone’s tastes are different, I’m going to show you my top 3 favorite power foods and hopefully they will steer you in the right direction so that you can find your own favorites.
1. Jelly Belly Sport Beans
I love love love candy so these are a no-brainer for me. They’re jelly beans packed with carbohydrates and electrolytes and some even come with extra caffeine for those days when you’re really dragging. They also come in a re-sealable pouch that fits easily into anything from a pocket to a running pouch. They have a slight after-taste but I hardly ever notice.
2. Clif Shot Bloks
These gummy little things take me to runner’s heaven. They’re chewy, filling and don’t have a nasty after-taste. The package is a bit bigger but I haven’t had any problems fitting it into my runner’s pouch. The only downside is that they can be a bit too chewy and have to be washed down with water.
3. Honey Stinger Waffle
This is by far my favorite power food. This waffle is crunchy on the outside but filled with smooth honey goodness. I almost always eat one of these right after I run, but sometimes I’ll have one during if my stomach is upset or too full of liquid. Honestly, I would eat one of these at any time of the day. They’re so good!
So there you have it! Remember: always chase your power food with water. No gatorade! Next week I’ll be back to tell you all about my half-marathon!!
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Tags: Health, Jerrell Green, Running
