I thought I would jump on board with WIAW again this week, but to share my food from Saturday (my long run day). In the other posts I have shared my foods were all pretty “healthy” (depending on your definition of healthy) and they were from a weekday when my meals are usually more structured. I usually eat differently when I am traveling or eating out, although my rule is to still try to include fruits and veggies throughout the day. I thought sharing Saturday’s foods would be a little more realistic-and really, it’s all about balance, right?
Breakfast was broken down into three parts:
Pre Run Fuel
Mid Run Fuel (taken around mile 7.5 of my 14 mile run)
Post Run Smoothie (while foam rolling)
I was kind of thrown off with timing, so I ended up eating a late breakfast/early lunch
Midday Meal (eggs, bacon, sweet potatoes, spinach, kale)
Early lunch meant I needed snacks in order to survive until dinner
Snack # 1 (sliced apples with peanut butter)
Snack # 2
We went out for dinner at a casual bar. I was craving some kind of beef because I hadn’t eaten any all week, but I wasn’t sure if steak would be good at the place we were eating. So I settled on a burger and balanced it out with a salad. And a glass of wine, of course:)
Salad
Burger with fries
Wine
After dinner we stopped for fro-yo. Its been months since I had anything with so much sugar! I was definitely feeling it after, but it was a delicious treat:)
Fro-yo
I promise that there is yogurt under there and it’s not just a bowl full of toppings:)
I think I typically eat more than that on my long run days, but the early lunch really threw me off. Sometimes it can take awhile for my stomach to be ready for a full meal after a long run, but no matter what I make sure to at least drink a smoothie right away.
Do you eat differently on the the weekends/on long run days/when you travel?
Thanks, Jenn, for hosting “What I Ate Wednesday”!
I don’t like eggs but your midday meal looks delicious!
Over the summer I did my long runs at night due to my work schedule, and ended up having some fruit and a beer after. Healthy, right? My stomach often feels a little upset after longer or harder effort runs, so I normally have to force food down.
Fruit + beer= a healthy balance:)
I definitely eat more on long run days mostly because it is also the weekend so am out for dinner and usually lunch too. Not to mention, I am super hungry. I always have my breakfast before the run and breakfast after the run and usually lunch like two hours later. I can sometimes get to dinner without needing a snack but really, for the most part, I am snacking in between. Usually an apple with peanut butter. I think 90% of my diet is peanut butter.
I eat a lot of peanut butter too…I have actually cut back and been eating almond butter lately, which I think is also really good!
I always end up eating more when I eat out…especially if I go somewhere that has a bread basket- I can’t resist those!
I agree with Sam! That mix of bacon eggs and veggies looks delish!
Thanks! It was really good and I think I am going to make it all the time now:)
I wind up eating more the day after a long run than the day of. My stomach is always sensitive the day of my long run, after finishing and I wind up feeling like I’m shoving in food without being hungry but just knowing I need it. Looks like we are long run fuel twins 🙂
Sometimes I eat more the next day, too. I try not to focus too much on thinking about how much I have eaten but just got off how hungry I am. Sometimes I question how I could eat so little after a long run, but then it catches up with me the next day!
Okay that burger looks amazing. I haven’t had red meat in forever and I know my body needs it once a week, so this weekend I’ll definitely be getting some. I feel like during the week I eat pretty regimented but weekends all bets are off. I don’t tend to eat a normal lunch because I’ll eat such a late breakfast or I’m working at the store but dinner is usually the same.
Also– froyo is the best. I had some Sunday night and it has been way too long. i don’t know how you went months without a real dessert like that!
The burger is from Ryleigh’s, but we tried to go to Abbey Burger first and it was a 45 minute wait! (There has been a wait every time we have tried to go in the past 6 months) so of course then I was craving a burger! Luckily it was a good substitute:)
I used to get sknny hot chocolates when I was a kid and always with whip–hel-LO, they cancel each other out!!! Balance is life, you gotta have it!
Yes they definitely cancel each other out! Like last night my mom made baked apples for dessert which was a nice healthy treat but then we added ice cream on top:)
I definitely eat a lot differently on the weekends. My weekdays are very planned out and I make sure I only bring healthy foods to work, but the weekends are a little unpredictable. I’m more likely to go out to eat or to be caught somewhere without a “healthy” snack.
Yea I think the eating out is what gets me, since we don’t really keep any junk in the house. But its good to treat yourself once in a while, right?:)
I get so thrown off by long runs. I eat more all day but breakfast gets so skewed that it’s all concentrated later in the day for me. Love that you made sure to get some recovery wine in there too 😉
I find timing around long runs so difficult! I try to just eat when I am hungry and not worry about what time it is, but it can be challenging if you have dinner plans or something- I am usually too hungry to wait until 7pm to eat dinner!
My eating schedule is definitely thrown off on long run days. I always have a piece of toast with PB and banana before a run and then by the time I get back (after a few Gu’s) the last thing I want is food. I know I know you should get food in your system within a half hour after your run but sometimes it is hard for me to fathom food. I do try to have a protein milk or gatorade. I find my running hunger comes that day following a long run.
I completely know what you mean! I have just made it my routine to drink a smoothie within that 30 minute window so I know I am getting some protein and carbs, but sometimes I really don’t want a full meal for awhile. Sometimes I will ease my way back in with a protein bar or something light. Like you, sometimes my hunger doesn’t come until the next day, either!
Long runs have always thrown me off. My stomach is never able to handle too much food that day. I stick to mostly snacks & a burger or pizza @ night. However, the following day.. ohh I want food 24/7 Haha!
One of my favorite post long run meals is a burger! But I really can’t eat one until hours later so its perfect for dinner. Sometimes I end up ravenous the day after a long run, too!
That looks like a balanced day! I usually end up snacking a lot after a long run, which is probably not the best. But I make sure to have fruits and vegetables too.
I think snacking after a long run is fine as long as you eventually get enough food in! Sometimes I break it up into mini- meals if I can’t handle alot at once. Usually by dinner time I am able to eat a whole meal.
I also have trouble eating a big meal after a long run. Your fro-yo looks delicious even if it’s not the healthiest. You ran that day….enjoy it!
Yes I surely did enjoy it!
I do eat differently on long run days as well as race days. My breakfasts and lunch usually stay pretty healthy since I’ve been really trying to eat a well-balanced breakfast rather than just eating a crazy amount of carbs and little to no protein. I used to be all about only pancakes, muffins, scones, etc. haha My dinners on those days however, tend to be a tad on the less healthy side followed by dessert. I agree though, it is all about balance. It’s nice to have those treats some days and then get right back on the healthy wagon the next. It’s what works for me anyways! 🙂
It sounds like you have made some great changes to your eating while still leaving room for enjoyment:) I actually prefer breakfasts that are on the healthier side so that’s never really a problem for me. I get bored with lunches, so I usually just eat leftovers or whatever I can find. Its dinners that are a problem because I will want to eat ALL the bread and fries and burgers etc!
Sometimes I only eat twice (like two big – very big…) meals on weekend days, depending on when I get up/what I ate the night before/how hungover I am! I generally eat more regularly on weekdays. Oh that fro yo looks too amazing!
Weekends are so different for me, too. During the week it’s so much easier to eat structured meal!
I love fro yo! that looks amazing as well as the rest of your eats!
Thanks! It was delicious:)