Food For Thought

As someone that is a recreational or competitive athlete, the foods you eat are sometimes just as important as the workout itself. Food is the body's fuel and if we think about it in that manner, why would we chose to eat something that could hinder (think sugary sodas or processed desserts) our daily routine? Below is a list of "must have" foods that are nutrient dense:

Eggs
Eggs are chock full of protein which helps in muscle repair after those long hard training sessions. When you eat proteins in the morning, it helps to keep you fuller longer so you won't be searching around for a snack as soon as you arrive at work. Eggs can also come enriched with Omega-3, which is a good form of fat that we want in our diets.

Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are nutritionally superior to regular potatoes as they contain several vitamins. They contain vitamin A, an antioxident, vitamin C, potassium, iron, manganese, and copper. Many restaurants are starting to offer sweet potato fries as a side option. Although fried foods aren't ideal, if you need a french fry fix, the sweet potato variety is the better option.

Salmon
Salmon is a great source of protein and is packed with Omega-3 fats. Omega-3s help curb the body's inflammatory response which is seen in diseases like asthma, different forms of arthritis and other autoimmune diseases. We posted a new recipe this week for a salmon salad, which is basically tuna salad with canned salmon replacing the tuna.

Almonds
Almonds are a superfood for athletes. They are loaded in vitamin E (an antioxidant) and aside from nuts, this is not commonly found in foods. Almonds also help to lower the "bad" cholesterol and improve heart health. If you're looking for something that might also satisfy your sweet tooth, Emerald makes Dark Cocoa dusted (my personal favorite) and Cinnamon and Sugar dusted almonds.