One of the best ways to refuel after a workout? Protein, protein, protein. After exercise, your body begins the recovery process and needs protein to maximize your results. Here are my top five protein-packed foods and beverages to optimize every single workout:
1)Â Â Â Â Â Chocolate milk:Â Not only is it packed with vitamins, but compared to plain milk, water, or most sports drinks, it has double the carbohydrate and protein content, perfect for replenishing tired muscles.
2)     Greek yogurt: After I finish a workout, I’ll eat Fage Greek yogurt with some honey. Averaging in about 13g of protein and extremely low fat/sugar content, Greek yogurt comes in many different flavors and helps in reviving your achy muscles. You can also use it in making a healthy post-workout smoothie.
3)Â Â Â Â Â Eggs:Â One egg comes with 6 grams of protein and a quick shot of vitamin D. Having an egg after a tough workout, especially in the morning, can help you be fueled and ready for the day ahead.
4)     Peanut butter: Spreading one tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of whole-wheat toast gives you about 5 grams of protein. Also, one serving of this tasty spread contains 5 g of monounsatured fatty acids, which research shows can help keep belly fat at bay.
5)     Soybeans: My grandfather grows these in his garden and our family loves them! While it’s always best to go the natural route, picking these up on your weekly Stop & Shop trip will be just as beneficial.  And you don’t need a lot of them to get your protein; there are 11 grams of protein in a half-cup serving!
Not only are these kitchen-essentials full of protein, they’re also relatively cheap and can be found in your local grocery store. Hope my tips helped!
Have any other protein-packed ideas? Â Tell us by tweeting @hercampusqu!