The perfect pre-workout snack should be easily digestible, have a good nutrient profile, and ideally promote vasodilation and blood flow. These bars have you covered in all departments.
Any pre-exercise snack should also help trigger a positive feedback loop. Basically, the tastier it is, the more positive feelings you'll associate with your workouts. Every time you eat it, you'll know what's about to go down.
So let's get to the recipe, then keep scrolling because I'll tell you why these make an awesome pre-workout snack.
The natural caffeine and theobromine in dark chocolate act as mild stimulants, while the theobromine can also be a vasodilator. Dark chocolate also contains certain flavonoids that increase nitric oxide production. These convenient and tasty bars are perfect for any chocolate addict.
Metabolic Drive® Protein is the primary source of protein, which you need training for amino acid availability. But what's more important than the total protein content is the ratio of protein, carbs, and fats.
Unlike post-workout where keeping fats to a minimum should be your goal, in the few hours leading to your workout some fats could be a good thing. A 2014 study by Yi et al. showed an almond-based snack actually beat a carbohydrate-heavy snack for maximizing exercise performance. The almonds allowed the subjects (cyclists) to sustain a higher intensity of exercise for longer.
Theoretically this was due to the combination of protein and fat. The fat might allow people to sustain the energy obtained from carbs for a longer period of time – a drip-feed effect if you will. The peanuts in this recipe aid that process, whether you're lifting, cross training, or cycling.
The oats and medjool dates in these bars make for a great mix of sustainable energy too, with a little salt helping to maintain electrolyte balance.
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