How often do you ask yourself that question?!
Or, if you’re a teacher, how often do you hear it? It comes up pretty often, and the short answer is: nothing. Try your best not to eat for at least two hours before you practice.
It’s important what you do with those couple of hours before you hit the mat, to give your body nutrition it craves. When you are eating to fuel up before class, eat something nutritious and just filling enough. You don’t want to over do it—think about doing a downdog on a full stomach. No thanks!
I’ve got a short list of my favorite vegetarian-friendly snacks for smooth sailing all the way through class. So, next time you find yourself standing in front of the fridge going, “What should I eat?” you’ll remember you have an answer!
A handfull of nuts (walnuts or almonds) + a small piece of fruit. You’ll get protein, healthy fats, essential vitamins, minerals and an extra shot of energy with a sweet piece of fruit.
2 oz of swiss cheese + half a grapefruit (or some other citrus). Protein and fat to fill you up plus some fiber from the fruit. Proteins and acids work great together – they digest so efficiently, you’ll never feel weighed down with a combo like this.
A small salad of mixed greens tossed with a bit of feta cheese, pumpkin seeds and a homemade vinaigrette. Just mix 2 parts olive oil and 1 part lemon juice. Add a drizzle of honey and your favorite herbs and enjoy!
A classic: one small apple and a few tablespoons of your favorite nut butter! Branch out away from the standard peanut butter and try cashew, almond, or sunflower butter instead. These other options have a lot more healthy fat and stack up way higher in the vitamin department, too.
A cup of green tea + 2 scrambled egg whites on the side. Extra light but exactly what you need. Green tea tends to suppress your appetite, so if you want to feel fuller without risking a full belly right before class, sip on this! The egg whites won’t make you feel stuffed, but you’ll still get that necessary protein and essential amino acids.
What’s your favorite pre-yoga fuel?
