What to Eat Before Cardio? (According to a Dietician)

You should eat food that is rich in protein and complex carbs for cardio.

The complex carbs can help balance the fuel requirements your body has and, with the right timing, can give you a good performance boost [1]. More on that shortly.

The protein can then also help your muscles perform better, but it’s also a valuable macro to prepare for muscle recovery after your workout [2].

It shouldn't be a replacement for a post-workout shake, but it’s a good idea to stock up on amino acid supplements.

Here are four simple snacks that you can either buy ready to eat or make within just a few minutes.

1. A small bowl of oatmeal topped with nuts and seeds for healthy fats
2. Fruit smoothie with frozen berries and greek yogurt for a protein boost
3. Granola bar with coconut oil
4. Whole wheat bread with almond butter and cottage cheese

You’ll see in these recommendations that there are some foods that contain sources of healthy fats.

The reason we don’t recommend loading up on fat is that it’s slow to digest, and you need the energy released for your exercise routine [3].

You should only eat a small portion as a pre-workout meal.

What I mean is that you want to avoid eating a large lunch or dinner within a few hours of cardio workouts [4].

More on timing shortly.

What I recommend is eating up to 300 calories of food for this snack. It’s very much dependent on whether your goals are maintaining weight or bulking up fast.

And your overall physique, strength, and intensity of workouts could also increase or decrease that number.

But you want to avoid eating too much more than that as you may feel bloated during training.

When considering a pre-workout meal, incorporating a snack with the right balance of nutrients can enhance your performance. Including a mix of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats can provide the necessary energy to fuel your workout effectively.

Choose whole-grain toast with nut butter, a healthy shake, or a handful of nuts and fruits. These options can offer sustained energy and prevent discomfort during exercise.

Finding the proper pre-workout meal that works for you may require experimentation and individual customization.

Getting The Timing Right

What I would suggest is eating a small snack about 45 to 60 minutes before a cardio workout.

That should be long enough for your body to start the digestion processes and release the energy in the carbs and protein.

A small meal or smoothie is ideal for that 60-minute window before a workout [5].

And the closer you can get a boost of protein before a training session, the more you can prepare your body to reduce muscle damage in the recovery period.

You shouldn’t eat junk foods or sugary treats before a cardio session.

This also includes a type of sports drink that is more likely to cause blood sugar spikes [6].

Keep in mind that this could make it difficult to burn fat while doing cardio exercises as there’s surplus energy available.

I’ve dealt with many clients who drank these sugary drinks before and during training only to struggle with weight issues as a result.

“People who experience bigger dips in blood sugar report greater hunger and tend to eat more calories overall than people with smaller dips in blood sugar.“

- Lauren Bedosky, Writer at Everydayhealth.com.

And I also want to make sure we define junk food.

This isn’t just burgers, fries, and pizza. But it’s anything highly processed that includes lots of simple carbs and unhealthy fat [7].

It’s low in the nutrients you need for your muscles to perform and high in the “nutrients” that mess up your performance and health.

No matter what your fitness goals are, steering clear of such foods can help you avoid many health conditions that can have a huge toll on your body.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is essential for optimal cardiovascular performance. Excessive weight stresses your heart and hampers your endurance during cardio exercises.

You can support your body's natural weight management processes by making conscious choices to avoid unhealthy, processed foods. You can also adopt a balanced diet rich in nutrient-dense options.

Regular physical activity and a nutritious diet are the keys to a healthy body weight. This leads to improved cardiovascular fitness and overall well-being.