After my husband and I spent an amazing weekend away to celebrate our anniversary, I came home not only to a mountain of laundry, but also to a nasty head cold. Honestly, if it’ not one thing it’s another. It’s almost laughable. I am going to be scrambling to get my Thanksgiving together next week. Luckily, I did some shopping ahead of time and I have almost everything aside from a few ingredients that need to be fresh.
I am thrilled to be having my Dad come for a visit this year. I love this holiday– all of the family and food without the mountains of wrapping paper, assembling, and non-sense that goes on at Christmas. I love to cook, so this is my holiday people! Plus having my Dad in town always makes it fun. He is a character and makes everyone feel as though they are the only person in the room. He is quite charming. My kids and I are counting the days until G Dawg gets here.
As I slowly get back into a running routine and my miles increase each week, optimal pre-run nutrition is back on my radar. I have lost over 5 pounds since I pulled out of this years Boston Marathon and sadly, I’m pretty sure that weight was muscle. The fact is, I’m just not that hungry now that I’m not running as much. With the Holidays around the corner, I want my cupboards stocked with healthy options so that when I grab something on the go, the calories nourish my body, and are not full of empty junk.
I wanted to make some energy bars that I could put in the freezer and grab when I was heading out the door. I added the Beet Juice and Matcha Powder not only because it makes them look festive, but because there is some research that indicates that Beet Juice can enhance your running performance. There is some doubt as to weather or not it truly works for everyone, however if you’d like to read for yourself, here is a few articles on the subject.
Runner’s World- Beet Juice: How Much and When
Runner’s Connect: Can Beet Juice Improve Running Performance
What You’ll Need
1 cup of Ouick Oats or Barley
1/2 cup of Almond Milk
2 scoops of Vanilla Protein Powder
1 heaping spoonful of Almond Butter
3-4 Tablespoons of Agave or Honey
1 Tablespoon of Beet Juice or Matcha Powder ( Optional)
1/4 cup of White Chocolate Chips ( Optional)
How to Make Them
Place the first 5-6 ingredients in a Food Processor and pulse until well blended. Add the chips and pulse until mixed.
Spray a baking dish with Coconut Oil or Pam. Place energy bar mixture in the baking dish and press down. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes before slicing.
Can be frozen for up to one month.
5 Ingredient All Natural Energy Bars- Optimal Pre-Run Nutrition #fitfluential #runchat Click To Tweet
Are you having guests for Thanksgiving this year? Are you traveling to friends or family? Have you tried Beet Juice before a run? What do you think about it’s effectiveness?
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