For some reason school lunch is at 12pm. Practice starts at 4pm and doesn't end until 6pm. That gap between eating is where good training days go to die. The fix is to pack snacks in your backpack that survive being squished and actually fuel you. My favorite everyday carb snacks are on the Nutrition page, so here are seven more from my snack reviews that earn a spot in the bag.
-
That's It Fruit Bars
They are literally just fruit, so they're quick carbs that are easy on the stomach even close to a run. Apple and blueberry is the best flavor.
Clean quick energy -
Yumi Organic Bars
Soft bars made with real fruit and simple ingredients. Easy carbs that go down light between classes.
Light mid-morning carbs -
Simple Mills Pop Mmms
Popped crackers with simple, gluten-free ingredients. Cheddar tastes like a healthier goldfish, and Cinnamon Burst covers the sweet craving.
The lunch-box upgrade -
Siete Kettle Cooked Chips
Kettle-crunchy chips cooked in avocado oil with simple ingredients. Carbs plus a little salt, which you need back after sweaty practices.
Carbs + sodium -
Pumpkin seeds
Protein, healthy fats, and minerals in a bag. Better for the long afternoon than right before training since fat digests slowly.
Long-lasting fuel -
Chomps or Archer beef sticks
Straight protein that needs no fridge. Great right after training when a real meal is still an hour away.
Post-practice protein -
Legendary Protein Pastries
Tastes like a poptart with way more protein and less sugar. Strawberry is the best flavor, and it starts the rebuild so you're not starving until dinner. They taste even better when they are heated up in the microwave for 10 seconds.
Post-practice bridge
How to actually use them
Restock your backpack frequently. Try to eat something small every 2 to 3 hours. I recommend eating a snack before lunch, a carb snack an hour before practice, and a protein-ish snack right after. That way your energy is steady all day, and you never show up to practice on an empty tank.
Try to eat something every 2 to 3 hours. A stocked backpack is the cheapest performance upgrade there is. Carb snacks before practice, protein after, and restock every week. The vending machine can't compete.