If you're heading to the gym and lifting weights, you'll know that it's meant to be hard (if it's not hard, you're probably not building any muscle), but refueling afterward doesn't have to be. And thank goodness because many of us exercise during our lunch breaks and have neither the time nor the facilities to prepare and eat an entire post-workout meal like this high-protein sweet potato chili recipe.
That's why my eyes lit up when I saw this high-protein snack recipe from Fay dietitian Shannon Cook. It has everything I want in a post-workout snack.
First, it has 45g of carbs, the macronutrient everyone should prioritize after a workout according to a sports dietitian.
There's also a sizeable serving of protein, more than the sports dietitian says is necessary (they advised a 3:1 carb-to-protein ratio), but a chunky serving of protein like this will keep you feeling full until your next meal.
But it's the addition of fruit and veg—with the vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber you get from them—that, in my opinion, makes this snack superior to a protein bar or shake.
And then there's the convenience factor. There are only five ingredients and once you've measured the quantities, they can be popped into containers and slung in a bag. You just need to assemble the turkey, cheese and pretzels into Lunchable-like bites and dip into the other ingredients as the mood takes you.
Bear in mind that at 453 calories, this snack is an ideal way to help your body recover after an intense workout, but it's probably not necessary if you've completed a less demanding workout.
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup roasted edamame
- 11 pretzel chips
- 1 full-fat cheese stick
- ½ cup blueberries
- 3oz low-sodium turkey deli meat
Method
- Assemble the ingredients into mini open sandwiches, using the pretzels as bread.
