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Marcus Samuelsson

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8 Recipes for the Best Workout

Posted: 03/19/2012 10:32 am

Just like keeping a healthy diet is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating the right foods is just as important for getting the most out of your workout. While keeping active is a major aspect of staying fit, what you use for fuel definitely factors in.

It's key to know which essential foods will keep you going and help your body recover after hard work. Certain foods are good for preparing your body for an intense workout and giving you the energy you need to endure it. Others are great for after exercising to help you maintain calorie burning, build muscle, and prevent cramping.

Since nobody knows men and food like Food Republic, we pulled eight great recipes of theirs to try out before and after a workout. Give them a try -- energy food can be seriously delicious.

For more healthy tips and recipes, follow me on Twitter (@MarcusCooks)


Before: Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancakes
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Mixing complex carbohydrates and protein is smart, especially before a strenuous workout, because together they provide energy and build muscle. Try eating whole-wheat bread with peanut butter. But if you’re planning for an extensive workout, try a more calorie-dense breakfast like these peanut butter and jelly pancakes.

Recipe: Peanut Butter and Jelly Pancakes
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Follow Marcus Samuelsson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarcusCooks

 
 
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
wcapp
Failure is success in progress
10:18 PM on 03/25/2012
They all look delish, but I think I will try the Akoori Indian Scrambled Eggs before my workout in the morning. Thanks Marcus.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
libwingoflibwing
Leftist, Christian, Non-Violent Revolutionary
03:31 PM on 03/25/2012
I don't understand the whole idea of juicing.

So you get all the nutrients. But you also get all the calories and NONE of the fiber. The result is you can drink in one glass of juice the calories of five or six fruits or vegetables. That's a lot of calories. Plus juice has a high glycemic index while vegetables have a low one and fruit has a low glycemic load. So juice will spike your blood sugar, which contributes to hypoglycemia, obesity and eventually diabetes.

Why not just eat the vegetables or fruit? Or if you have to drink it, why not blend it and keep the fiber? This gives you a much healthier food.

My daily breakfast is 1 fresh raw grapefruit, 1 banana and 1/2 cup of blueberries. Eating raw fruit is a much greater and finer sensory experience than drinking juice. But it is very refreshing and hydrating too. Finally I get hordes of nutrition and am full and satiated until lunch time. When I drink juice I don't want to stop. I could drink a guart of OJ or V8. Then I'd still be hungry and crave simple, processed carbs.

So I am seriously asking, not just snarking. Why juice? Why not just eat the fruit or veggies themselves? What benefit do people think they get from juicing instead of eating the entire fruit or veggies?
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
krallfan
10:09 PM on 03/25/2012
I have the same question. Also, it seems like converting fruit and vegetables to juice is wasting it unnecessarily.
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Scvoter1
Success can be achieved
10:14 PM on 03/25/2012
Good Question - I have made the same analysis and agree.

I also asked myself the same question as I purchased a machine and tried drying fruit. Why would anyone who does not camp out or hike, want to eat dried fruit?

Frozen and canned fruit I understand. Pressed into juice or dried, no way.

Maybe I'm just not with it.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
DavidMG
OWS Senior
01:44 PM on 03/25/2012
Mr. Samuelson seems to be a highly accomplished chef. But unless he has some real training (I see none in his bio) in nutrition (more than a couple of courses) he shouldn't be giving dietary advice. As a non-nutritionist who has worked with a nutritionist writing cookbooks, I can only attest to how complicated (and important) human nutrition is.
10:47 AM on 03/25/2012
All of these recipes are awesome. Can't wait to make the fried rice bowl! Yum.
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oneeasyrider
E=mc2: From light you exist
01:26 AM on 03/25/2012
Was on board and ready to make Akoori Indian scrambled eggs in the morning until I saw spinach and oven roasted tomato omelet -- awesome. Chicken meatloaf with sun dried tomatoes looks incredible too. Love anything with sun dried tomatoes.
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12:17 AM on 03/21/2012
Great recipes from one of my favorite chefs.

Thank you!

Oh--and do you have anything using quinoa?