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Food is the fuel to any workout and you’ve got to make sure you eat right. If you’re a fitness fanatic, you probably already know that there are certain foods that can help prepare your body for intense training sessions. Similarly, there are foods that ensure you gain back the energy you lose after your time in the gym. Eating the right foods at the right time can help you can fuel your body, provide energy, and build and repair muscle. Each of us have unique nutritional requirements and vegans have several additional food restrictions that they need to consider. Meeting your daily nutritional requirement can ensure that you perform your best. Let’s go over some of the best vegan foods that you should include in your pre and post workout regime.

To begin with, here’s a list of some of the best vegan, pre workout foods.

1. Vegan Smoothie Bowls: Easy to digest, smoothie bowls can prove to be incredible fuel for your workout. Eating a bowl full of nutrients 40 minutes before your workout can fuel the most intense training sessions by providing your muscles with clean-burning carbs. Dress it up by adding non-dairy milk and sliced fruit, and watch yourself go through your workout with ease
2. Dates: Dates are nature’s take on healthy candy. With an ideal ratio of carbs to protein, they provide sustained energy and will carry you through the longer workouts with ease. Eating dates before your workout will provide you the right amount of glucose it needs to get through it.
3. Fruit with Nut Butter: Banana topped with some peanut butter is one of the most popular snacks for athletes. And rightly so! Loaded with manganese, carbs and potassium, bananas are a great source of longer lasting energy. They also prevent muscle cramps, help soothe and upset stomach and keep you feeling full, yet light, through your workout.
4. Vegan Pre-Workout Supplements: Finding the right supplement drink can enhance your performance to a great extent and really help you get the most out of your workout session. Finding quality vegan supplement drinks hasn’t always been the easiest task. Fortunately, that can be a worry of the past. Read this post for a complete buyer’s guide for the best vegan pre workout supplements. 
5. Green Juice: Come up with your own potion to boost your hydration levels before your workout. Grab some ginger, berries, apples and any greens from your refrigerator and toss it into the juicer. It really is as simple as that. Rehydrating you and keeping you feel full from that wave of nutrients, we guarantee you will feel the difference in your workout.

Next up, here’s a list of the best vegan, post workout food.

1. Water: There’s no discussion required on this one. Rehydrating yourself after any workout is absolutely essential. So, first things first, drink up.
2. Nuts: Eating a handful of nuts can provide you the protein you need after your workout. Nuts are high calorie foods so keep that in mind if you’re trying to drop a few pounds off the scale. Nonetheless, some of the healthiest nuts are walnuts, almonds, pistachios and cashew nuts.
3. Seeds: Seeds like chia, pumpkin and hemp seeds are loaded with fiber and protein making them irreplaceable in any athlete’s diets. Including seeds to your post workout regime helps build and repair muscles and help you regain energy after intense training sessions.
4. Soy milk: High on protein, soy milk is an extremely convenient option since you can blend it into your protein shake. With the vegan lifestyle gaining popularity around the world and with a considerable global population intolerant to milk, soy milk is easily available at most gyms and cafes now.
5. Raw Vegetables: Vegetables like celery, spinach and kale are incredible sources of protein. Each cup of spinach, for instance, contains 4 grams of protein. Increasing your intake of raw veggies can replenish moisture and protein back into your body. Top your bowl of veggies with a handful of nuts or some hummus and enjoy an extra large serving of energy and protein. 

Here’s what we’re saying. If you’re looking to train harder and get the most out of your workout, preparing mentally isn’t enough. What you eat will determine your overall performance and whether you’re a fitness fanatic or even a professional athlete, you’re going to need an extra boost of energy. Fortunately, following the vegan lifestyle isn’t a daunting task any more. There are plenty of vegan, protein-loaded foods available to help you meet your nutritional goals to help you get through and recover after your intense physical training regimes.