I don’t know about you, but I am hungry with all the running, triathlon training, and other workouts I’m doing these days. But it’s a delicate balance with the weight loss maintenance game to play. If I let myself snack and eat too much, despite all the exercise, my weight bounces back up easily. So I really need to focus on healthy snacks in order to fuel myself and also stay on track.

For today’s Friday Five linkup with me, Courtney and Mar, the theme is “Food and Drink”, so I wanted to focus on Five Healthy Snacks for Runners to stay motivated and on track through the rest of the summer and beyond.

1. Bananas. Yes, I go bananas for bananas. I love them in the morning, before a run, after a run – you get the picture. Bananas are full of potassium, vitamins, and are super versatile as a healthy snack. Eat them solo, slice them on top of or mixed in with other healthy things, blend them in smoothies – bananas are simply the best.

2. Hummus and baby carrots. Mmmm, hummus. I can’t get enough of it, but do need to watch my intake of this healthy snack, as I tend to overindulge. One way I keep the the portion size moderate is to dish it out into a small bowl rather than eating out of the container. Some brands of hummus are more natural and moderate for sodium intake than others, so be sure to check the labels and pick the one that suits your healthy snacking needs the best.

3. Almond Butter. I know, I know – everyone in the running world is crazy for peanut butter. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not anti-peanut butter, I just have a kid with a peanut allergy so I’ve discovered the beauty of almond butter and have sampled just about every brand to find a few go-to almond butters that I love.

I’m fairly obsessed with almond butter in the morning on healthy bread, in the evening on apples, and anytime in between on a spoon. And hey – combine it with #1 on this list for supreme snacking awesomeness – and on top of bread for a pre-workout healthy snack!

4. Oranges. No, these won’t fill you up in the same way as protein-oriented snacks, but they are juicy and refreshing, and have been linked to decreased muscle soreness. They have anti-oxidant properties and enough Vitamin C to fulfill your body’s need. Pair with some nuts or raisins for added snacking oomph.

5. Hard boiled eggs. This protein-packed snack is the perfect fuel for endurance athletes. Healthy snacking at its finest. I love to mash one up with a little olive oil and a few other things like raisins or shredded parmesan cheese. Eggs have nutritional benefits beyond the protein – the B vitamins eggs contain can aid in reducing inflammation from your workouts and preventing muscle fatigue.

The trick for me when it comes to snacking is to go low-sugar, as un-processed as possible. I’m not a perfect healthy snacker, but when I stick to this principle I feel my best and also perform my best fitness-wise.

What’s your favorite #healthy snack? Check out these five ideas! #weightloss #healthyliving
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