Late summer into early fall is often the time of year when I’m outside logging the most miles running — 16, 18, 20 at a time — getting ready for marathon season. It’s also the time of year when I remember how important it is to feed/fuel yourself properly. One of the earliest lessons I learned when I first started doing long-distance running is that you get out what you put in — be it persistence, patience, or food. In the same way that you need to take the time to train properly, you also need to make the effort to eat well. What you eat the night before, the morning of, and right after an activity can make all the difference in how you perform. If I eat a hearty bowl of pasta the night before a long run, I feel 10x better when I’m out doing loops.
But eating well doesn’t mean sacrificing taste or flavor – the trick is to be creative with how you get power foods into your diet; find recipes that speak to you, and over time, you eventually get to a point where you’re no longer thinking about it, but just eating healthy as a regular routine. For me, I usually make it a point to just pick up certain foods when I’m at the grocery store — oranges, avocados, almonds, sweet potatoes — that way I know I’ll eat them during the week. Also the creative side in me is always thinking of ways to come up with new recipes. Some of my favorite hearty and healthy foods to eat are: pasta, couscous, and fresh bread for carbs; eggs, avocados, and fish for protein; and tomatoes, carrots, and kale for veggies.

Here are some of my favorite easy-to-make recipes:
– Roasted chickpea, carrot, and beet kale salad + goat cheese toasties
– Miso kale, edamame, and raisin salad + pan-grilled salmon
– Anchovy, basil, and garlic pasta + spicy tomatoes and greens
– Spicy avocado toast with fried halloumi and fried eggs
– Grilled carrots, aubergines, and green salad + peanut toasties
– Pan-grilled salmon + veggie couscous

All that said, there’s not a one-size-fits-all approach to fueling an active lifestyle. Even among runners, there’s variation in what types and amounts of fuel work for each of us. The trick is to listen to your body, and ultimately find what works for you.

Happy (healthy) eating!