Commuter Diet - Tips/Recommendations

Citizen Smith

After a bit of a break, I back doing a regular commute by glorious two wheels.

When I cycle regularly, I find myself very tired indeed. Partly, it's down to a lack of fitness ( ) but I'm also sure that I don't eat & drink to best effect.

I am interested to hear what other regular commuters have throughout the day (breakfast, lunch & dinner + any other snacks) to keep their energy levels up?

RufusA

The biggest problem I have when I cycle regularly is that I tend to snack on unhealthy things and then put on weight (and suffer from "sugar meltdowns"* halfway through the journey home).

So for me a good days food would be something like:

Breakfast: Double Espresso, Fruit Juice, Toast, Banana, small youghurt. Preferably eaten at least 20mins before setting off. If It's a long ride I might take the banana with me for a mid ride boost.

Lunch: Pig out on carbs - usually pasta of some sort.

Pre ride home: Apple or other fruit.

Dinner: Protein i.e. fish, chicken etc. and accompanyments.

In reality there is usually a bit of cake, chocolate or something else rich in sugar sprinkled throughout the day.

Drink wise I tend to just go with water (and coffee), as I don't need the super sugary drinks for a commute!

Rufus.

* (c) Lazytown.

SmellTheGlove

[quote="RufusA "sugar meltdowns"* ...

* (c) Lazytown.[/quote]

Stock up on sports candy people! The Icelander knows a thing or two.

meanwhile

SiHughes wrote:

After a bit of a break, I back doing a regular commute by glorious two wheels.

When I cycle regularly, I find myself very tired indeed. Partly, it's down to a lack of fitness ( ) but I'm also sure that I don't eat & drink to best effect.

I am interested to hear what other regular commuters have throughout the day (breakfast, lunch & dinner + any other snacks) to keep their energy levels up?

Unless you're cycling an unusual distance for a commute, then the only rules I would suggest are:

- Avoid very sugary snacks, as they play havoc with your blood sugar level - it soars up, then crashes. This includes those silly snack bars like Nutrigrain and flapjacks.

- Do have a decent breakfast. Some people need protein in the morning if they're not to feel sleepy the rest of the day. If you're one of them, have an egg.

- Make sure you stay hydrated while on the bike.

- Coffee just before riding can be a real pick me up. If you're hungry, munch a banna and *not* a chocolate bar.

- Eat a good healthy diet - fewer highly processed carbs and more wholegrain, more fruit and vegetables, etc.

ChrisLS

...bananas, porridge is good, and, rightly or wrongly I have a bottle of energy drink on my bike for the way home incase I get the rubber legs, or the "bonk" as it is known in cycling terms...