Prepare Grab and Go Breakfasts
Because many athletes struggle with the need for grab-and-go breakfasts, coming up with a list of options and keeping these on hand is a big help. Ideas to get you started.Believe it or not, this is much easier than planning lunch or dinner. Before you goto the store each week, simply take stock of what you have and make your list accordingly. For example, if you are happy having English muffins all week, you just need to add fresh fruit and English muffins to your list and make sure you are not out of jam or low-trans-fat margarine. If you like the idea of homemade muffins, set aside time on the weekend and make up a batch or two and freeze them. You can then pop one or two in the microwave before leaving the house or when you get to work. Just remember to add juice or fresh fruit.
Also remember that when there is more time—like on Sunday morning after your long run—you might enjoy experimenting with cooked hearty grains or tofu or egg and vegetable skillet dishes. Ideas include fruit crepes, waffles with apricot and ginger compote,scrambled tofu with vegetables, tofu breakfast burrito, and hot porridge with fruit puree and roasted nuts.Plan Portable Lunches Lunches are also a challenge for many vegetarian athletes,myself included. I remember living in Birmingham, Alabama, where there were many restaurants that served delicious and reasonably priced vegetarian fare just a short walk from my lab.
Currently, however, I have no such luxury. If I am not prepared, I end up eating sport bars and dried fruit and coming homestarved. Although I can get away with this on rest days, it is worse than awful on days I run at noon or stop at the dance studio after work for Irish dance practice.The solution of course is to stock your pantry with lunch options and spend five minutes after dinner preparing tomorrow’s lunch. If you need to, it may help to set up a rotating lunch schedule. Remember that leftovers are also a great lunch option.