Whole Foods Recipes for Runners
Author: Skratch Athlete Lentine Alexis
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that if you’re reading this, you’ve probably tried eating real, whole foods on your long run and found that it’s not always straightforward. Dean Karnazes may be able to roll up an entire pizza and consume it while still running and keeping pace on a 100-mile race. But what about us regular humans looking to go a little further, get a little faster, and all on real foods?
Fueling with real food doesn’t have to be so tricky. But the simplicity lies in knowing what your body needs, and what it doesn’t need when you’re on the run. Our digestive systems have intrinsic problems with most gels and beans; while these options are easy to carry and easy to eat, they aren’t always easy to digest for bodies in motion (and that can lead to, er, problems.)
In a nutshell, our digestive tracts are put through a lot of stress when we’re on the move. And, they can be negatively affected when our body temperature rises, when we start to become dehydrated, and just simply because we’re diverting blood flow away from the stomach and into the limbs and core to support our movements. “During exercise,” says Dr. Allen Lim, “the process of digestion and absorption is not principally different than it is at rest. In fact, this process is robust enough to handle most exercise situations, but it can be compromised by prolonged exercise (such as a long trail run,) especially in the heat,” says Lim. What happens when your digestive system is compromised in exercise, you experience what’s called “gastric emptying;” your bowels empty, and never at an opportune time.
So what does that mean? What's the best thing to eat when you want to run to new exciting places (and not to the bathroom?) Know this:
Get to know your bod.
Not all bodies are the same. Every body needs something different. Learn YOUR body.
This is worthy of some experimentation. Try lots of different easy to carry foods that sound interesting to you. Then, put them to the test. For some, rolling a whole pizza up on the run is a great idea, for others.
SIMPLE carbs.
Your body needs simple carbs (read: simple sugars) to fuel muscles at work. Despite the fact that we’re being trained not to eat simple carbohydrates (like sugar,) this is precisely what your body is asking for when your on the run.
Simple food. Easier Digestion.
We can really only digest so much on the run, so the simpler the food, the better. You can’t aim to replace every calorie you’re burning while running. And really, you can only expect to replace about 20% of those calories. Aim to take in about 60-90 grams of carbohydrates on your long runs (this includes your sports drink and any food you may consume), and choose simple foods that your body prefers and plan real, whole meals on the front and back ends of your run.
< 3.5 grams of fiber.
Look for foods that have less than 3.5 grams of fiber per serving, are easy to transport, and are DELICIOUS. And this is a great place to start. The more you trial (and maybe error) different foods, the more you’ll learn about what your body likes, loves and hates to eat on the run. Maybe someday you’ll be rolling up a whole pizza for a 100-mile run too, but until then, here are some of my best suggestions:
Skratch Labs Chews. Instant hits of sugar, in easy to transport shapes!
Fig Bars Made with Skratch Cookie batter - better than the store-bought variety because they contain zero preservatives and only ingredients your body likes to use as energy!
Mashed sweet potatoes or bananas - high in potassium, and easy to eat in mush form, don’t worry too much about stashing these foods in a way that keeps their shape. Pureeing them and transporting them in a squeeze bottle or baggy is actually a protip (and basically, a whole foods gel!)
Hard Salty Pretzels - also an easy to port snack, you’ll want to make sure you have enough water to digest these, but the salt is great for hot days (and there’s no spoilage factor!)
For longer runs where a bit of protein and fat are helpful, give these Zoom Balls a try. Keep them in the fridge when you’re at home, then stash them in a baggie for your run. They’re easy to carry in ball, bite or bar form, though they’ll start to squish a bit when they reach room temperature. (No need to worry about spoilage - the refrigerator helps them to keep their shape.) If you have a favorite protein powder, you can add it here for an extra boost:
Recipe: Zoom Balls
Makes 30-40 balls
Ingredients:
¼ cup tahini
½ cup coconut butter
¼ cup almond butter
1 cup pitted Medjool dates
3/4 cup maple syrup or honey
1 tbsp each cocoa powder, vanilla powder + hemp seed
¼ tbsp almond meal or flax meal
1 tsp sea salt
½ cup shredded coconut (for the ball mixture)
1 cup coconut + 1 tbsp sesame seeds (for rolling)
Instructions
In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment (or a high powered blender) combine all of the ingredients and blend until smooth. Using a small scoop or a tablespoon, scoop the mixture out and toss it into the coconut and sesame mixture, rolling it to coat and then between your hands to make little balls. Repeat with remaining mixture. Store the balls in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
I go to great lengths to make food from scratch for my long runs; I just love the process of making something craveable for those big days. But that's not always possible, so I like to reach for Skratch Labs Matcha Green Tea & Lemon Energy Chews or Skratch Energy bars as well!
About Lentine Alexis
Lentine Alexis is a curious, classically trained chef and former pro athlete. I use my bicycle, raw life and travel experiences and organic ingredients to inspire athletes and everyone to explore, connect and expand their human experiences through food. Follow her on Instagram @lentinealexis
