Are you giving your body what it needs to perform at its best?

Exercise is a major part of maintaining a fit and healthy body, but it is only one part of the equation. In order to achieve and maintain a healthy body, we must also focus on our diets. You can do all of the crunches and push-ups you like, but if you’re not feeding the machine properly you are wasting your time.

Today I would like to focus on post-workout meals and snacks that will not only keep your muscles going but will keep your body healthy. How many times after a great workout do you find yourself craving unhealthy snacks and meals? I know it sounds counterproductive, but on more than one occasion I have found myself munching on poisonous fast food or an unhealthy snack after a workout. It was like my mind was saying, “Hey, after that workout you deserve a snack.”

Well, my mind was half right. Our bodies do need a snack, but it really needs to be a healthy, nutritious snack that will help build muscle. Check out my list of snacks and ideas that are not only good for you but taste great as well.

Fitness Fuel: Best Post-Workout Foods

1. Eggs
Low in calories and high in protein, eggs are an ideal post-workout food because of their ability to keep you full after a workout, without weighing you down too much.

2. Bananas
Powerful workouts require carbohydrates. One medium-sized banana happens to have about 100 calories and 30 grams of carbohydrates, making them a great snack to follow any cardio or aerobics activity.

3. Berries
On top of being sweet and sometimes tart, berries are filled with energy-packed vitamins and antioxidants. More specifically, blueberries are rich in valine, which is used by the body to prevent muscle breakdown post exercise, and can double your rate of recovery after an intense workout.

4. Greek Yogurt
What’s the biggest catalyst to muscle growth? Protein. With double the amount of protein than regular yogurt, Greek yogurt provides the body with a great protein infusion while having few calories and sugar.

5. Nuts
Nuts provide carbohydrates, protein and the best kind of fats for your body. More specifically, pistachios are great for post workout due to their richness in potassium — an electrolyte lost through sweat.

6. Kefir
Kefir, a fermented milk drink made from probiotic bacteria, has been growing in popularity, and rightfully so. Just one cup of kefir contains 11 to 14 grams of “complete proteins,” which don’t occur naturally in the body. According to some scientists, it can provide health benefits for the digestive and immune systems.

7. Water
Whether you want shinier hair, younger skin, a healthier body — or all three! –pure, clear water is the world’s best beauty elixir. Drink at least four glasses daily.

And here are more snack combination ideas that I love:

  • Apple slices and low-fat string cheese
  • Peanut butter and crackers
  • Black bean omelet (using egg whites)
  • Pita with hummus
  • Crackers and hummus
  • Peanut butter and celery
  • Tuna fish and crackers
  • Peanut butter and raisins, on a rice cake

You can’t go wrong with any of the 15 snack ideas above, or variations thereof. They’ll load up your body with the energy needed to refuel, and the protein needed to rebuild and repair muscle.