Breakfasts of Champions

Four recipes to boost energy levels for an early-morning workout or replenish depleted energy stores post-session...

- By Kate Percy

Do you like to eat breakfast before a morning workout or train on an empty stomach? For me, it depends. Over the years I’ve experimented with fasted and non-fasted training and my conclusion is that there’s no hard and fast rule as to which is best.

Variables such as your gender, intensity and type of the training planned, what you’ve eaten the night before, or simply convenience and what’s in store for the rest of the day, all factor. This month I bring you four pre-and post-training breakfast ideas so you can take your pick.

For those who like just a quick bite before they go out, make the Banana walnut muffins in advance. Store in the freezer and defrost whenever you fancy one. Not too sweet, I like to eat these warm with a little butter and honey or marmalade. Packed with slow-releasing carbohydrate, antioxidants, minerals such as potassium and magnesium, and healthy fats, these will nourish and sustain your morning workout. You can also wrap them warm in foil and pop them in your feed pouch for a little on-the-bike sustenance.