Are you in search of the best food for runners?
Eating the right foods can make all the difference when it comes to running. We’ve compiled a list of our favorite healthy and nutritious options to boost your energy and give you an edge on race day!
Make sure your body is functioning at its highest performance with specially crafted ingredients that will help increase endurance, reduce inflammation, prevent injuries, and improve focus.
Check out Blog below for the best foods for runners.
How We Choose the Best Products for You
It can be tough to know what running food to buy. There are so many products on the market, and it's hard to know which ones are worth your money.
Not all running food is created equal. A lot of the food marketed toward runners is unhealthy or ineffective.
We've researched for you! Our list of the best running food on Amazon includes only healthy, high-quality products that will help you reach your fitness goals.
Here at Smart Frog, we take pride in our reviews. We only recommend products that we believe in and use ourselves.
We also believe in transparency, so we want you to know that Smart Frog Reviews may receive a commission at no cost to you from the links on this page if you decide to buy something (that's how we stay in business).
With that said, we would never recommend a product we didn't believe in just to make a quick buck. We stand by our reviews 100% and hope you find them helpful. Thanks for supporting us and happy shopping!
What We Like Most About It
Enjoy a quick energy boost with Honey Stinger Organic Honey Waffles! These portable snacks are a great pre or mid-running fuel, perfect for pace-setters and go-getters. Each waffle sandwich has a delicious layer of honey-infused filling between two thin waffles for the ideal blend of gooey sweetness and crisp texture.
With 19g total carbs and carefully chosen ingredients designed for quick uptake, you can keep going without being weighed down. Get your head in the game with the flavor and convenience of Honey Stinger organic honey waffles!
What You Need to Know
Honey Stinger Organic Honey Waffle is the perfect snack for active people who value performance and sports nutrition. Crafted with a blend of natural sweeteners, this waffle helps replenish glycogen stores and provides an energy boost to sustain endurance.
With no artificial sweeteners, colors, or preservatives, Honey Stinger provides both essential carbs required after exercise and sodium to help replenish electrolytes lost through sweat. Lightweight yet filling, Honey Stinger Organic Honey Waffles will fit into any gym bag or running belt, providing a quick and healthy energizing snack.
What We Like Most About It
Skratch Labs Energy Chews make for an ideal addition to any physical activity, whether you're a cyclist, runner, triathlete, or hiker. Packed with real raspberries and just the right amount of granulated sugar and sour powder for both function and taste, Skratch Labs Energy Chews have 70 calories and 20g of carbohydrates per serving - made up of both glucose and fructose to speed absorption into your system quickly.
These gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan-friendly chews are perfect for when you need a fast source of fuel that won't upset your stomach during hard workouts. Use 1-2 servings per hour of exercise or as needed to keep yourself going strong!
What You Need to Know
Skratch Labs Energy chews are made with real food that starts from scratch to ensure the highest quality and maximum taste! Offering a unique drop shape, these chews easily digest, providing quick energy that your body can utilize. Plus, they are a great alternative to sweet and gooey gels that dissolve faster than the gut can absorb.
Not only do Skratch Labs Energy Chwes give you fast energy but they also taste better while avoiding any artificial sweeteners, isolates, colors, or preservatives which could otherwise lead to GI distress. Enjoy high-quality performance nutrition that you want to eat.
What We Like Most About It
Clif Bars Energy Bars are the perfect energy supplement before and during moderate-intensity activity. Clif's mission is to create a healthier and more sustainable food system, so they have crafted their bars from sustainably sourced ingredients like chocolate and wholesome plant-based ingredients such as peanuts and rolled oats. It's an ideal mix of protein, fat, and carbohydrates to help sustain active bodies for longer. And it tastes great too!
With Clif Bars Energy Bars, you can keep your energy up without guilt. Get the right nutrients at the right times with Clif Bars Energy Bars: guaranteed to give you the energy boost you need when you're giving it your all.
What You Need to Know
Clif Bars are a delicious and healthy way to stay energized throughout the day. With a range of mouth-watering flavors such as Chocolate Chip, Crunchy Peanut Butter, and more, Clif Bars offer something for every taste. Whether you're on the trail running a marathon or in need of an energy boost for your next hike, Clif Bars provide the sustenance you need. Packed with wholesome ingredients and ready to eat, Clif Bars make it easy to get fueled up and keep active!
What We Like Most About It
Get ready for an energy boost with Kate’s Real Food Organic Energy Bars! These all-natural, nutrient-rich bars are USDA-certified organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, soy-free, and kosher. Every bar is deliciously crafted using only the highest quality organic ingredients, like dried fruits, dark chocolate, honey, and other clean flavors.
There are no artificial or chemical sweeteners — each nutrition bar brings a great texture with the energy and nutrients you need. Enjoy guilt-free snacking with Kate’s Real Food Organic Energy Bars; you won’t sacrifice taste for health! With a great taste guarantee, every bite will be satisfying. Get your energy bar today for a nutritious snack that's as good for your pallet as it is for your body!
What You Need to Know
Kate’s Real Food Organic Energy Bars are the perfect snack for a busy life. Each bar is created with real peanut or almond butter and powered by sustaining whole foods like organic oats and brown rice crisps.
Whether you need it as an energizing snack, meal replacement, or even as fuel while exploring new places, Kate’s Real Food is your go-to solution. Packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals to nourish your body and boost your energy levels, Kate’s Real Food bars make sure you can conquer whatever life throws at you without compromising on taste.
What We Like Most About It
Introducing Probar Bolt Organic Energy Chews, a great way to get essential vitamins and nutrients while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Not only are these chews delicious, but they are also jam-packed with acai, pomegranate, and blueberry - you can feel good knowing you are providing your body with safe, certified organic ingredients.
Plus, these chews provide added vitamins B6, B12, and C as well as electrolytes so that you can have the energy to power through even the toughest of runs.
What You Need to Know
Probar Bolt Organic Energy Chews are the perfect solution for a quick jolt of energy when you need it the most. Each 30g serving provides you with 24g of carbohydrates to give you an instant burst of energy and they even contain 20mg of caffeine from YERBA MATE for that added boost.
The Probar Bolt is made from safe, sustainably-sourced ingredients so you can feel confident about your health, as this allows for a soy-free diet.
Running Food FAQs
You want to find the best food for your runs for you but don’t know what to choose! With so many choices on amazon, it can be hard to figure out what is the best for you especially if you are new to running.
We have compiled a list of frequently asked questions about running and fueling so you can find out more about it and see what running fuel might be best for you.
What foods make you run?
It is a well-established fact that the food you eat can have a noticeable impact on your running performance. Consuming the right foods can help to boost energy, increase endurance and promote recovery.
Complex carbohydrates are arguably the most important fuel source for runners as they break down slowly in the body, providing steady and sustained energy levels throughout extended runs. These include whole grain bread, rice and oats, potatoes, legumes, and other starchy vegetables such as corn and squash.
What should I eat 30 minutes before running?
It is well-known that fueling your body before running is key to a successful workout. Consuming the right types of food 30 minutes before running can help ensure you have enough energy and stamina to complete the exercise.
The ideal meal should include a combination of proteins and carb loading, with small amounts of healthy fats. Carbs are essential for providing energy stores while protein helps main muscle strength during extended physical activity. Healthy fats provide longer-lasting fuel and can help prevent hunger during an intense run. Aim for meals that are lightweight but still nutrient dense to properly fuel your body without weighing it down.
What foods to avoid for running?
When it comes to running, diet plays an essential role as it can determine how well you perform and also how you feel during (and after) a race. The foods that should be avoided if one wishes to run optimally are those high in sugar, saturated fats, and simple carbohydrates. These food items cause spikes in blood sugar levels which lead to exhaustion and fatigue, making your runs more difficult than they need to be.
Of particular note are highly processed snacks like chips and candy, which are packed with unhealthy fats, sugars, salt, and preservatives – all of which have no place in a healthy diet. Additionally, many runners find that dairy products can cause stomach upset during their run; this is especially true for those who have lactose intolerance or other sensitivities.
What gives you energy before a run?
Fueling your body properly with food before running is essential for energy production during exercise. Complex carbohydrates are known for releasing glucose at an even rate over time so they are an ideal source of energy before long runs or races; try some oatmeal or whole grain toast with nut butter about an hour before heading out on the road or trail.
Other sources of carbohydrates include fruits such as bananas or apples; these quick sugar sources provide immediate energy boosts but don’t last as long as complex carbs so consume them closer to the start time of the run if using them only (about 30 minutes). Furthermore, it’s important to stay hydrated - dehydration leads not only to decreased performance but also muscle cramping and nausea.
Can you run on an empty stomach?
Yes, it is possible to run on an empty stomach. Many athletes and runners often do this as it can produce certain benefits. When exercising without food in the body, you are burning fat for fuel, rather than relying on carbohydrates or sugars which your body usually utilizes during exercise. This means that running on an empty stomach can help individuals burn more fat while they train, resulting in a higher overall rate of weight loss.
However, some people may find that their performance is affected when running on an empty stomach due to the lack of energy from food intake. Especially if the individual plans to push themselves harder with intense workouts or marathons, then eating something prior helps to provide their bodies with sufficient energy needed for their activity level and duration of time spent training.
What are good carbs before a run?
When preparing for a run, it is important to make sure you are taking in the right kind of carbohydrates. Carbs help provide your body with energy, and they can give you that extra edge during a long or intensive run.
The best type of carbs to consume before a run are complex carbohydrates. These types of carbs will break down more slowly over time, providing your body with sustained energy throughout the duration of your activity.
Whole wheat bread and whole grain pasta, oats, quinoa, sweet potatoes, and legumes such as black beans and lentils are all good sources of complex carbohydrates that can be eaten up to two hours before your run.
What foods make stamina worse?
A runner's diet is key before a race. Eating fatty or fried foods can significantly reduce stamina and performance levels. This is because foods high in fat require additional energy to be digested, which draws away from the energy available for physical activities such as running and even just standing for long periods of time.
Fried foods and spicy foods are particularly detrimental to stamina because they contain trans fats which slow down digestion and put a strain on the body. Trans fats also take longer to digest than other types of food which further decreases overall endurance levels in people who consume them regularly.
In addition, processed foods such as white bread, white pasta, cakes, and biscuits provide a quick burst of energy that eventually lead to fatigue due to blood sugar spikes followed by rapid drops in blood sugar levels. These rapid swings can leave you feeling drained and lacking energy throughout the day - not ideal when your goal is increased stamina!
Are eggs good before a run?
Yes, eggs can be a good pre-run snack. In fact, they are a great source of protein and B vitamins, which can help fuel your body for a run or other athletic activity.
Eggs contain 6 grams of high-quality protein per large egg. Protein is essential for muscle building and muscle repair as well as energy production during exercise. Additionally, these proteins provide the necessary amino acids for tissue repair after strenuous exercise like running.
Eggs also provide B vitamins such as thiamin (B1), riboflavin (B2), folate (B9), and vitamin B12 – all of which have been linked to improved athletic performance through increased energy levels and subsequent muscle contraction strength in endurance athletes.
Which Running Food is Best for You?
Thank you so much for reading this blog post! We hope that now you have a better understanding of what running fuel is and what options are available to you.
Remember, all you need to do now is tap the red button to check the price of the most suitable running fuel for you.
Thanks for stopping by!
