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Expert Q&A

	By Kelli Calabrese Exercise Physiologist

Should I eat a meal before or after I workout? I'm talking about breakfast or lunch. Is there a better way to burn calories?

Ideally you should eat within 30 – 60 minutes of rising The meal should consist of a lean protein such as egg whites, a fibrous carb such as veggies in the omelet and a starchy carb such as steel cut oats. Then you will have energy for your workout. If you exercise the very first thing in the morning, get something small and easily digestible into you such as cashew butter on a slice of sprouted bread or a scoop of protein powder in a shake or an apple with natural peanut butter.

The 30 minutes following a workout is also an opportune time to consume a lean protein with a vegetable and starchy carbs such as steel cut oatmeal, brown rice or a yam, to replenish stores consumed during exercise and to help with recovery.

You should not exercise on an empty stomach even when exercising first thing in the morning. You will have better energy and blood sugar levels if you eat something first. The meal will give you the energy to work harder.

At the end of the day, it does come down to an energy balance equation, so you want to spread your calories out throughout the day and not eat a heavy meal at night or a meal within 3 hours of bedtime.

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