Fun Run season is well and truly underway with the HBF Run for a Reason already kicking off last month and the City to Surf in another couple of months, so I thought I’d dedicate a whole post to breakfasts that are ideal for eating before a Fun Run. Before I get into the nitty gritty though, I’d like to point out that all the information below is a result of my own experiences and some research – I am not a professional, so always consult a health professional first.
Anyway, I am a big Fun Runner – I try and do as many as I can throughout the season. So I would like to say I know my stuff when it comes to what to eat the morning before a Fun Run. From my past experiences I just never seem to run as fast without eating a high energy breakfast the same morning. This used to mean I would eat bowls of sugary cereals each morning, but since making this blog I found other healthier breakfast alternatives to get my energy fix because, to put it plainly, sugary cereals are NOT good for you at all!
Whilst this is all well and good, these healthy alternatives also need to be made quick because it’s not like we have all morning to be poaching pears and baking cake when you’ve got a Fun Run to run. I don’t know about you but I have found that Fun Runs are usually early in the morning so it’s always a bit of a rush when you wake up.
Below I have compiled a list of all my favourite breakfasts for before a Fun Run. If you have any suggestions feel free to comment below to let me know. I would love to hear what you usually eat!
- Banana and peanut butter on wholemeal toast
If you have time you could even make avo on toast topped with a poached egg!
My hands-down favourite quick breakfast will always be the good old peanut butter on toast. It gets me every time. But I always pimp mine up by adding some sliced banana on top and maybe even a drizzle of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Wholemeal toast with fruit provides both types of carbs and fruit adds a little bit of extra energy.
- Wholemeal English muffins with ricotta, banana and honey
I don’t often have English muffins but when I do my favourite combination is always some ricotta, topped with sliced bananas and a drizzle of honey.
Try this recipe: Honey and Banana Muffins with Ricotta
- Muffins
The day before you could always make a healthy breakfast muffin like my Spiced Apple Pie Muffins. Homemade ones are so much healthier than the store-bought ones, which are full of added sugars and fats, which really aren’t that necessary. Homemade muffins are also full of energy and they’re a great snack to just grab and go.
- Banana Bread
Alternatively, you could make some banana bread the day before and toast it in the morning. Banana bread you buy at cafes is often full of unnecessary fats and sugars so I totally recommend making your own. Why not try my recipe! This recipe provides a great carbohydrate alternative to normal bread and bananas contain lots of potassium, which can be lost through sweat.
- Porridge
You’ve heard me say it before but porridge is a godsend. It is full of complex carbohydrates that keep you full for a long time – particularly good if you’re getting up early in the morning for a long run. Of course, it’s not always a suitable breakfast for when you’re in a hurry (although it is reasonably quick to make) so if you’ve got some extra time up your sleeve, I would recommend quick oats. I like Uncle Toby’s oats sachets for when I’m in a hurry. My favourite flavour is maple, sultana and fig.
Maple, sultana and fig Uncle Toby’s Oats topped with a caramelised apple, almonds and maple syrup.
Now, from my personal experience (as I mentioned above) I need a really high energy breakfast to get me going fast when I’m running but sometimes my usual porridge isn’t able to deliver that so I’ve gotten a bit creative in recent years. One of my favourite energy combinations is raspberry and dark chocolate or cranberry and white chocolate, but I also like to experiment with my toppings (hellooo nutbutter!!)
Banana chocolate porridge topped with more banana, cashew butter and a hazelnut chocolate bunny – Easter themed!
- Yogurt and muesli or trail mix/dried fruits and nuts
Another very quick and energy dense breakfast is as simple as yogurt with muesli or trail mix. But be careful some store-bought yogurts and muesli’s are packed full of unnecessary added sugars. That’s why I always try to buy natural or greek yogurt and make my own muesli. But if you’re exercising a lot then it’s perfectly okay to treat yourself once in a while.
Yogurt is easy on the stomach and you get a quick energy boost from the natural sugars in the dried fruits, whilst the nuts and seeds prevent insulin levels falling.
Also I have included a list of foods to avoid. Note: this is not of my own personal knowledge.
- Foods very high in fibre – this is something I find very hard to avoid!
- Fatty foods
- Spicy foods
- Lots of caffeine
- Alcohol
I hope any of you runners – experienced or not – find this post somewhat useful. Remember to let me know if you have any suggestions.
Tanisha xx
Sources:
http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/what-eat-your-run
http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/healthy-eating/nutrition/best-workout-foods/
Note: all photos are my own
Eat Sleep Run Repeat 