Pre-Workout Meals: What Foods are Best to Eat for Muscle Gain?

What you eat before and after a workout is equally important as what you do in the gym!

Eating the right pre workout food for muscle gain can actually fuel up your body so that it can continue performing the desired results.

It’s an undeniable fact that you would have to lift heavy weights with high intensity in order to lose pounds.

However, what you don’t know is if you don’t feed your body with high-quality nutrients and foods, you might miss out on a chance of witnessing valuable gains.

But the question that arises is what to eat before and after a workout for optimum results!

Well, here are some of the amazingly effective and best pre-workout meals for muscle gain that can increase the efficacy of the muscle-building process if taken prior to your workout.

However, first, let’s get to know more about the importance of pre-workout meals!

Why Is Pre-Workout Meal Considered Important for Muscle Gain?

Optimizing physical performance and improving the recovery process are two of the most significant aspects of pre-workout.

Although, you can only look after both aspects if you are conscious about your pre-workout and post-workout meals.

Your body needs adequate amounts of nutrients and minerals to perform at its apex which you can only gain naturally through your foods.

Moreover, there are some specific nutrient-rich foods that you must eat before or after the workout to build muscle.

Not only does the food help you reach your body goals, but also, it increases your overall performance.

In a study, it has been concluded that eating carbohydrates a few hours prior to exercise will only benefit the performance.

Hence, the kind of food that you eat somehow dictates your metabolic state as well.

As a result, that ultimately affects the number of calories and the amount of fat your body is burning.

Until now, you must have got aware of how important a pre-workout meal is in the morning for muscle gain!

Now is the time to check out the best pre-workout breakfast for muscle gain.

[Top 6] Best Pre-Workout Meals For Muscle Gains

The significance of pre-workout meals in muscle-building and overall health is no more a secret.

However, it’s equally important for you to know about some of the meals loaded with potent macronutrients.

Mentioned below are some of the healthy as well as easy-to-make meals that you must consider as the best pre-workout food for muscle gain.

#1. Plain Yogurt And Granola

Combining the crispy texture of granola with the silky consistency of yogurt might prove to be way too beneficial for your muscle gains.

According to what the US office of dietary supplements states, yogurt is enriched with the recommended value of all the essential minerals needed for the body.

Moreover, yogurt contains calcium which is such a potent nutrient that majorly contributes to the muscle-building process.

The added berries and granola can allow your body to gain quick-digesting carbs that eventually fuel your workout session.

Try looking out for the granola which has nuts, seeds, and wholesome carbs (such as oats, millets, and quinoa in it).

Moreover, talking about the type of yogurt, you need to keep in mind to always choose the plain ones rather than the fruit flavors.

So, in your hunt for the best pre-workout meal bodybuilding, you might have got your first option!

#2. Oatmeal Combined With Blueberries

You might get amazed to know that oatmeal topped with blueberries can allow you to add disease-fighting anti-oxidants to your breakfast.

Oats are popularly considered to be one of the healthiest grains on the earth.

More than that, many health experts are there to claim oatmeal to be an excellent source of soluble fiber as well.

The high-protein oatmeal along with blueberries can allow you to get sustained energy for longer periods of workouts.

Interestingly, you can also give a protein punch to this simple breakfast after adding a pinch of protein powder to it.

The protein powder provides amino acids that aid muscle breakdown.

Well, the mentioned combination is incredibly balanced and has the ability to maximize your performance if taken as a pre-workout meal.

#3. Egg-Whites And Toast

Eggs have continued to be one of the favorite breakfast meals for people for ages.

It’s one of the best post-workout meals for muscle gain.

However, whether or not you are not concerned about your fitness goals, eggs as breakfast are the best option.

We are not saying this without any backup claims!

Egg whites, similar to whey protein are such a great source of digestive proteins.

Any pre-workout meal enriched with easily digestible high protein can actually be on the list of best pre-workout meals.

The motto behind you having a nutrient-rich healthy pre-workout meal should be to provide your body with enough fuel to get ready for a workout without feeling sluggish.

Eating egg whites can be a potent source of protein and what would go better with them than toast?

Well, talking about the toast, prefer going with white bread rather than wheat.

White bread highly contains fast-digesting carb that fuels you up to be ready for your workout.

#4. Chicken And Rice

Regardless of the fact that chicken might not be the best pre-workout meal for muscle gain if you are running late, it still is the best answer for what to eat before a workout.

If you have a few hours left for your workout, then chicken can be a great source of protein for you.

Among all the protein sources that you can get from foods, chicken can be the best for you. Not because it is rich in protein, but also it is low in fat.

Rice is undoubtedly a rich source of carbohydrates and is still preferred by various fitness enthusiasts as one of their breakfast foods.

White rice as compared to brown rice is easier to make and more likely to get digested in less time.

So, you can ideally consume white rice and chicken half an hour before your workout.

So, now you know what to eat 30 minutes before a workout.

Moreover, if you are planning to pair it up with brown rice, then you must wait for an hour or so before starting your workout session.

If you’re tired of eating bland chicken with plain rice, seasoning it with some external ingredients such as lemon pepper or garlic would always be a great idea!

#5. Banana With Peanut Butter And Honey

Peanut butter is a concoction of emulsifying peanuts with healthy oils. It also counts as a rich source of fiber and vitamin E.

Along with that, it is an excellent way to manage your weight while keeping the cholesterol level in check.

Furthermore, bananas are one such fruit that contains both carbohydrates as well as potassium which eventually helps in optimizing muscle and nerve functions.

In short, considering bananas as your pre-workout meal can be a really good option for you if you are actually into fitness.

Moreover, if you want to add extra sweetness to your breakfast, try adding a bit of honey to it.

It will gradually release glucose levels in your bloodstream which could be effective in fueling you up during the workout.

Banana with peanut butter and honey is one of the healthiest combinations that you can ever know to have before you are heading towards your workout. This makes it one of the best additions to the list of best pre-workout meals for muscle gain.

#6. Dry Fruits

Some health professionals have touted the importance of dry fruits as a proper pre and post-workout food for muscle building.

Eating dry fruits prior to exercising can fuel you up for an effective workout session. Moreover, eating it post-workout can aid in recovery.

Dry fruits such as raisins and berries are an excellent source of easily digestible carbohydrates.

Moreover, dry fruits are enriched with some potent nutrients and minerals and can be counted as the best pre workout snack for muscle gain.

Until now, you must have got a firm idea of the best pre-workout breakfast for muscle gain.

Now, let us head towards some of the questions asked by people about their pre-workout meals.

Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]

Mentioned below are some of the frequently asked questions.

#1. What Should I Not Eat Before Workout?

It’s recommended not to eat anything heavy. Moreover, try avoiding foods rich in fat. Eating foods rich in fat is not a good idea if you are about to be active in a while.

#2. Is It Okay to Workout on an Empty Stomach?

Exercising without fueling your body up with proper nutrients can lead your body to use the stored-up fats.

Eating before going to the gym or before a workout session is not only considered healthy but is also essential for fitness.

#3. Which Drink Should I Have Before a Workout?

For a drink, you must switch to a homemade drink with enough electrolytes so that you can stay energetic and hydrated throughout your workout.

#4. What is the Ideal Time to Have Post Workout Meal?

The recommended time for a post-workout meal is somewhere between 15 to 30 minutes post-workout. Always try to have some protein and carbs.

Protein is highly necessary for rebuilding the muscle whereas carbs will restore the glycogen.

With this, we have come to an end to what to eat before early morning workout bodybuilding.

If you are into bodybuilding or simply workout, it’s advised to properly fuel your body before you start working.

And with the above-mentioned best pre-workout meals you can get enough nutrients without compromising the taste.

Winding Up

Working out passionately for a healthy and sound body is a great thing.

However, having essential nutrients in your body is equally important so that your body can function at its best.

Skipping your pre-workout meal might not be a good idea since it would not allow you to recover fast.

So, in order to have an adequate amount of energy throughout your workout session, you need to eat foods that can allow you so.

We have discussed some of the best pre-workout breakfasts and meals for muscle gain.

Including them in your fitness regime can accelerate you towards a chiseled body.

We hope you got all the necessary information from this article.

Furthermore, you can comment below your queries, views.

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