5 Food Exercise Tips

Did you know that there are strong connections between food and exercise?

Eating well gives you the energy you need to get the most out of your workout and moderate- to high-intensity exercise may help to control appetite. Here are 5 simple tips to harness the food-exercise connection:

• Don’t just diet. Don’t just exercise. For good health and optimum weight, combine healthy eating and exercise.
• Snack wisely: If it’s been a while since your last meal, choose a pre-exercise snack; opt for healthy carbs (examples: fresh or dried fruit, a smoothie, whole-grain bread or crackers). Healthy post-workout snacks help your muscles and energy recover; combine protein and healthy carbs (examples: apple or banana with nut butter; yogurt and fruit; a smoothie; a small turkey sandwich).
• For good digestion, optimal energy and comfortable movement, wait an hour after eating a meal before you exercise.
• Skip the sports drink: Unless you’re doing intense exercise for 90+ minutes and/or working out in hot and humid conditions, water is all you should need to stay hydrated.
• Stress or boredom driving you to eat? Take a movement break instead--walk, stretch, or dance it out!

  Eat well to promote exercise, and exercise well to promote healthy eating!