Hummus: Pre Workout Snack, or After Workout Meal?

round-avatar
Hope Foods

Hummus a Pre workout, Post workout snack!

The gym. We love it, we hate it. We’re there to gain muscle, there to lose weight. But most of all, hopefully, we’re there to be healthy! And what disciplined gym-goer doesn’t constantly experiment with different ideas to find the best pre workout food, or post workout snack? Heck, if researchers definitively proved that eating a chicken wrap while running on the treadmill was the most effective road to a chiseled bod, you can bet people would start measuring their meals by the mile!

But if you’d rather stick to a comfier and cleaner solution, it’s no secret that hummus is an exercise superfood. Think we’re making this up? Check out what Men’s Health has to say about it. Or how about Women’s Health. Or Livestrong. Or Fitness Magazine. Are you getting the picture? No matter who you trust, the experts have weighed in… and hummus is consistently ranked near the top of the best pre workout foods, and also the best post workout foods.

Why is Hummus so Healthy?

Hummus has made waves in the exercise community mainly because of its nutrient density. That is, hummus is chock full of healthy macronutrients, vitamins and minerals to fuel quality exercise, without the filler calories that make you spend longer in the gym! What do we mean? Compare these stats for a 3.5-ounce hummus serving to your best post workout snack food, and see if it doesn’t measure up.

  • 175 calories
  • 20 grams of complex carbohydrates
  • 5 grams of muscle-building protein
  • 8.5 grams of heart healthy fat
  • 4 grams of insoluble fiber
  • A significant percentage (10% or more of Recommended Daily Values) for manganese, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, phosphorus, and copper
  • Trace percentages (10% RDV or less) of iron, magnesium, zinc, thiamin, calcium, and potassium.

Pretty amazing, right? It may come as no surprise to you, seeing as our favorite pre workout food is made up of some pretty simple and healthy ingredients: chickpeas, olive oil, tahini, lemon, garlic, and spices. Pretty hard to go wrong with those! However, there are some caveats to be aware of—sometimes the hummus you’re using for post workout protein is not on the up and up!

First, make sure your hummus contains Extra Virgin Olive Oil, instead of regular olive oil or canola oil, in order to preserve as many healthy Omega-3s as possible. Second, check that it is USDA Certified Organic, to ensure that no unhealthy pesticides or additives can affect your after workout meal. And third, opt for High Pressure Processed hummus, rather than a variety that has been heat-treated and pumped full of synthetic preservatives.

Once you’ve found your healthy hummus brand, it’s time to figure out how to craft some pre workout snacks and post workout food ideas. Want help?

Power Packed Hummus Fitness Recipes to Drool Over

To keep things simple, we figured we’d divvy up our recipes into best pre workout foods and best post workout foods. For more ideas like these, check out our HOPE Kitchen and Instagram page for way more than we can fit here!

Best Pre Workout Snacks:

Best Post Workout Protein:

This is just a taste of all the amazing recipes you’ll find! And that’s not counting the ones you will make yourself. If your pre workout snack needs some pep, or your post workout food needs some flair, you know what to do: pick up some hummus and get ready for your best gym day yet. Cheers and happy eating!