Whether you're an aspiring or pro athlete, you'll know high-quality, dense meals packed with calories and nutrition matter. Research shows that the average athlete can burn anywhere from 300 to 800 calories per hour during training, with many pros scheduling two or more training sessions on the same day.
Unfortunately, athletes usually prefer to avoid the benefits of traditional meal subscription plans. They need to be more optimized for their nutritional needs and are unlikely to keep an athlete satiated.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. Here's why you need to level up on your subscription plan and how to eat with athletes in mind.
Athletes Need Larger Portions
When it comes to sports nutrition, size matters. Most meal plans focus on healthy portion control, but athletes need more food that's optimized to meet their unique physical demands.
The type of sports you also play also matters. Endurance athletes need more carbs to thrive, while muscle builders need a higher protein concentration.
There are ways to take the guesswork out of eating without compromising on nutrition and performance. Our Athlete Subscription service is optimized with seven large meals that ensure you are supplied with the nutrient density you need for high-performing building blocks.
Fuel Your Sports Performance
Meal plans usually focus on flavor first and some nutrition density in mind. But athletes have specific nutrition needs, and although they can vary depending on your level of intensity, there are some staples to incorporate into any diet. Start with salmon and fatty fish, which are rich in Omega-3s that are essential for brain, hair, skin, muscle and overall performance.
Bananas are a valuable, low-calorie snack that isn't high in sugar but still helpful for your energy. You can also reach for the almonds, oatmeal, chicken, whole grains, and quinoa, among other ideas. If you still feel hungry after eating, drink more water and try increasing your protein intake to feel fuller longer.
Stimulate Muscle Growth
Nothing replaces consistence weight lifting and resistance training to build muscle, but what you eat also makes a significant impact. Lean meat, eggs, fish, beans, and whey protein are must-haves for your athletic diet journey. You might get some protein-building meals in a meal plan, but if they're not optimized for athletes, you're not maximizing your muscle-building potential.
Oxygenate Your Muscles
Just like all of the cells in your body, muscles also require oxygen to function. Athletes rely on oxygenated muscles to optimize performance and recover faster than ever before. Foods rich in iron and nitrates are vital to increasing oxygen supply and improving muscular performance.
Some foods are better at oxygenating your blood and muscles than others. Add more leafy vegetables, cabbage, avocado, carrot, meats, seeds, spinach, and cauliflower.
Optimize Your Recovery Days
Performance days need power-packed nutrition, but your recovery days are also essential for your athletic health. When you eat for recovery, you're helping rebuild muscles to keep up the momentum with your training. Beyond muscles, you also need to refuel your glycogen stores for carbohydrates.
Your best bet is to include plenty of clean proteins in your diet with natural, complex carbohydrates to energize your recovery. Healthy fats also help reduce potential inflammation from training.
Stay Satiated
Experiencing hunger as an athlete is normal; the harder you work out, the more you want to eat and refuel. Yet athletes need to tread lightly and ensure they're not overeating the wrong foods or suddenly limiting themselves to drop weight. Instead, a meal plan designed with athletes in mind helps keep you full while you focus on optimizing your athletic health and performance.
Ready to Enjoy the Benefits of Eating Healthy?
Eat like a pro athlete with FitTrax's meal plans ranging from 7 to 21 meals at a time. Or you can create custom meals on your own through our A La Carte option with our bulk items to maximize your favorite flavors and nutrients. Get started today.