The Best Foods To Fuel Your Body Post-Workout
I get it, sis. You just worked your tail off with a workout where you felt you could literally feel your calories burning off for good. But the work doesn't end there. While we're all trying to channel our inner Tracee Ellis Ross and Angela Bassett, a solid workout isn't enough. Even if you feel like you just did all the cardio in the world. What you eat after your workout can play a major part in your lifestyle choices.
And while it's tempting to treat yourself to Chick-Fil-A and Dairy Queen, there are better options that will fuel that intense workout.
Potatoes
While French fries are clearly not the best option to load up on after working out, that doesn't mean you can't eat regular potatoes (i.e. baked potatoes, sautéed potatoes, and such). When prepared the right way, they can actually serve as a good carb and restore your body with necessary glycogen, which helps keep your blood sugar levels on point. It goes without saying that fruits and vegetables are great for after a workout, but the key is balance. And that's where potatoes come in. Other good carbs include oatmeal, crackers, a granola bar (read the label), and dried fruit.
Protein
Your body will definitely need to refuel after you hit the gym (or your living room floor). While carbs are great to stock up on (the good kind of course), there's also a need to replenish your body with protein. Basically, carbs and protein are the yin and yang to the best foods for your workout. Since carbs have already been covered, great sources of protein include quinoa, cottage cheese, kefir, eggs, turkey breast, and nuts such as almonds. Of course, you can expand outside of that and go for tofu, fish, and beans too.
Balanced Meals
It might not be a good idea to eat too much after a workout (hey, cramps) but there's definitely room for a well-balanced meal; especially one to two hours after your workout session. Considering the idea of a well-balanced meal has been argued lately, it's safe to say it includes a healthy meat choice like grilled chicken or salmon, a good carb like rice or potatoes, and of course a fruit and/or vegetable. If you're vegan, you've already found a great protein substitute for chicken and fish. But in case you need a few more, there's always the likes of quinoa, tofu, and mushrooms.
Smoothie
Smoothies are always great after a workout because you can literally just throw in a bunch of nutrients and enjoy. It's quick, it's easy, and it's healthy. Another bonus is that it gets you full and causes you to steer away from feeding your hunger with unnecessary food that's not even healthy. Here's a quick tip for smoothies: the key is avocado. That's the ingredient that makes you fuller for a longer period of time, even more than fruit. Plus, it's full of healthy fats that can help your joints before you jump into your next workout.
Snack
If you're like me, you can find any excuse to indulge in a snack. Thankfully, an amazing workout is a great reason, as long as it's a healthy choice. Some of them include a cup of chocolate milk (yes, you can do it, sis), whole wheat toast with peanut butter and banana, hard-boiled eggs with whole wheat toast, a protein smoothie, a veggie omelet, and so on and so on. These snacks and other healthy options are great to eat while you prepare your well-balanced meal. Sidebar: almonds and oranges are also a great combination. Who else remembers when Destiny's Child singer Michelle Williams spilled that that was Beyonce's go-to when she was preparing for Coachella?
Fat
Not all fats are bad to eat after a workout. Like many other things on this list, it really just depends on the kind you select. For example, whole milk is better at boosting your muscle growth compared to skim milk, at least after a workout. While you should definitely put a ceiling on how much fat you eat after a workout, there's no need to ban it from your post-workout diet altogether. Some examples of good fats are dark chocolate, whole eggs, fatty fish like salmon, nuts, chia seeds, and avocados.
Bread or Yogurt
Just like fats, it depends on the kind. But when you spring for the right one, your body is definitely getting the fuel it needs after a good cardio session. For yogurt, I think we all know the best kind to eat is Greek. And feel free to add some fruit or granola into it for taste. For bread, the best kind is whole wheat. You can toast it and add peanut butter or almond butter or make a sandwich with turkey or chicken and soup on the side.
Featured image by Shutterstock
- What should I eat after a workout? Best post workout meals and ... ›
- The Absolute Best Post-workout Foods to Help You Refuel ›
- What to Eat After a Workout to Recover Faster | The Everygirl ›
- What to Eat Before and After a Workout, According to a Registered ... ›
- Here's What You Should Eat Post-Workout, According To A Nutrition ... ›
- Here's What You Should Eat Post-Workout, According To A Nutrition ... ›
- Good Food Choices to Eat After a Gym Workout ›
- 20 Trainers Reveal What They Eat After a Workout | Eat This Not That ›
- What to eat after a workout to lose weight, build muscle, and recover ... ›
- Post-Workout Nutrition: What to Eat After a Workout ›
Charmaine Patterson is a journalist, lifestyle blogger, and a lover of all things pop culture. While she has much experience in covering top entertainment news stories, she aims to share her everyday life experiences, old and new, with other women who can relate, laugh, and love along with her. Follow Char on Twitter @charjpatterson, Instagram @charpatterson, and keep up with her journey at CharJPatterson.com .
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Playa del Carmen is the perfect vacation getaway for anyone who loves beautiful beaches, delicious food, and fun activities. Located on the Caribbean Sea side of Mexico, PDC is nestled right between the spring break hub Cancun and the growing hotspot Tulum. Oftentimes overlooked for some of the other popular cities, I found Playa del Carmen to have just as much in terms of vacation necessities, with a more local and authentic Mexican feel.
The Ultimate Guide to Playa del Carmen
Playa del Carmen is perfect for a solo traveler looking to spend a few days in paradise or the group chat that wants to hang on the beach all day and turn up at night. I found the area to have a little bit of everything for everyone, so here’s my guide on where to eat, stay, and play for the ultimate Playa del Carmen vacation.
Getting Around
The easiest way to get to Playa del Carmen is to fly into Cancun Airport and then make your way south. You can rent a car and drive the one hour down to PDC, take a taxi, or you can catch the ADO bus, which will cost you less than $40 roundtrip. Overall, Playa del Carmen is an easy and safe city to navigate. If you stay on or close to Quinta Avenida (5th Avenue), you’ll be within walking distance to a ton of stores, restaurants, and nightlife. Most taxi rides were between 100 and 150 pesos, which is less than $10 USD. Renting a car is also an option, but with things being very walkable and taxis being fairly inexpensive, it’s not a necessity. Another great way to get around is bikes, which you can rent to use throughout the city.
Stay
The Thompson Hotel is for the folks who know that where you stay on vacation absolutely does matter. This luxury property offers chic rooms and upscale suites, onsite restaurants, and a spa for those who are looking to pamper themselves. One of the standout features of this property is the rooftop infinity pool, which has 360-degree views of the city and is absolutely stunning. This is your type of hotel if you value immaculate views, delicious eats, prime location, and live DJs.
Grand Hyatt offers a prime beachfront location, while also being steps away from the mix on Quinta Avenida. I like that this property allows you to take in the calm beauty of the Caribbean, while also being in close proximity to the action within the city. You get both authentic Mexican food and some international fare at the resort restaurants, and this property also has an infinity pool that gives views of the ocean.
Airbnb
If you don’t have the funds to spend on a hotel stay, but still want clean and comfortable accommodations, do not overlook Airbnb. You can find super reasonably priced apartments close to the strip that will leave you in the heart of all the action. Many of these buildings feature 24-hour security, infinity pools, top-notch gyms, and rooftop bars. This is a great way to save some money, while not sacrificing the quality of the accommodations you like.
Eat
One of the best parts of being near the Caribbean Sea is having access to fresh seafood, and Ictio Fish House is the place to go for it. Located just a block off of the 5th Avenida strip, this small seafood restaurant is a quieter change compared to some of the busier and more touristy restaurants located directly on the strip. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available, but if you can snag a spot at the bar, the service is top notch and you can watch the bartender put together your craft cocktail.
Everything they serve is delicious and tastes authentic, so you really can't go wrong when ordering. But to start, the crispy jumbo shrimp and calamari are perfect for sharing. Other must-try dishes are the garlic butter catch of the day and the adobo-styled octopus.
El Fogon
Ask anyone for a recommendation for the best tacos in Playa del Carmen, and I promise you they will point you to El Fogon. You know a spot is good when it’s filled with just as many locals as tourists, and there’s a line outside at 1 p.m. This no-frills spot serves up authentic Mexican favorites like el pastor tacos, chicken quesadillas, guacamole, and margaritas. Every dish comes with the fixings and is not only super filling but extremely affordable. You can easily get a full meal and a drink for less than $20 USD. They have more than one location, so you can taste some of their delicious tacos no matter what part of PDC you stay in.
L&L by Lara&Luca
Before you hit the beach for day drinking, you need a hearty breakfast from L&L to start your day. This cute cafe is the smaller “sister” restaurant to Lara&Luca, another popular breakfast and lunch cafe in Playa. I liked that L&L is less busy and more laid back than the other location. They serve up typical breakfast and lunch items such as eggs, coffee, sandwiches, and French toast.
My favorite item was the ham and cheese croissant, which could be enjoyed on their outdoor seating or taken to enjoy on the go. They also have yummy pastries, but these sell out quickly, so be sure to go early.
El Pirata
If you’re a fried fish lover like me and appreciate sea-to-table service, El Pirata is the place to go. This restaurant is tucked away towards the end of the main 5th Avenida strip, so you might miss it if you aren’t looking for it. The restaurant serves up a plethora of tasty dishes like fresh ceviche, garlic shrimp, and shrimp empanadas, and has a full beverage menu for your libation needs. However, the fried fish is truly the star of the show.
When you order, they bring to your table a few of the fresh fish that were caught that day and allow you to choose which lucky one you want them to fry for you. And let me tell you, picking your own fried fish just hits different! It was one of my favorite meals in Playa del Carmen.
Play
Food Tour
There are so many delicious places to eat in Playa del Carmen so taking a local food tour is the best way to try a little bit of everything. I love taking food tours when I travel because not only is it a great way to try a range of different local dishes, but the tour guides usually give you a history lesson during the tour where you learn more about the history of certain dishes and the country as a whole. In Playa Del Carmen, I took a local food tour with GetYourGuide, where we stopped at several different locations for tacos, fresh fruit juice, tamales, and more.
I value it when there’s a local leading the tour because it’s a way to support the locals and also learn things that only people native to the location would know. While we walked, the guide shared a lot of insight about Mexico and Playa del Carmen, while giving recommendations for places to eat during our trip.
Cenotes
Cenotes are natural sinkholes or underground caverns that have pools of water in which you can explore, dive, and swim in. You will find cenotes all around Mexico, but there are several in the Playa del Carmen region. Cenotes vary in size and also the depth of water, so even if you don’t know how to swim, you can find a cenote to explore at your own comfort level. Two beautiful cenotes you can explore near PDC are Cenote Azul and Cenote Dos Ojos.
Cenote Azul is perfect for snorkeling because of the crystal clear waters that allow you to see the colorful fish and plant life underneath. Cenote Dos Ojos is perfect for explorers due to the mesmerizing underground caverns and rock formations throughout. You can take a trip to the cenotes on your own or book a tour that may take you to several different cenotes.
Beaches
Playa Del Carmen has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, so beach hopping is a must while vacationing in the area. Whether you want a chill, relaxing beach day or you are thinking of jet skiing on the blue waters, there is a beach for you. There are several beaches along the coast of Playa del Carmen, some that are within walking distance of most hotels, and others that you may need to travel to get to but are totally worth it.
Playa Mamitas is one of the most popular beaches in PDC due to its location near the heart of the city, and also because of the crystal clear waters and white sand. Playa Mamitas is also a great spot for entertainment and the occasional beach party for the folks wanting to turn up. Playacar Beach is another great option that is located in the upscale Playacar neighborhood, south of downtown Playa del Carmen.
It is known for its pristine beauty and laid-back atmosphere, making it a popular destination for travelers seeking relaxation and seclusion. Other beaches to consider are Punta Esmeralda and Xpu-ha Beach, so you’ll have an option for every day of your trip, depending on your mood.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Peathegee Inc/Getty Images