Finding time for a run workout is hard enough for people with busy schedules, but making time for a healthy meal can seem completely out of the question. Meal replacements such as shakes and bars can be a convenient way to sneak a healthy meal into a busy day or to grab a few precious calories before a run. The best shakes for runners provide nutrition without overloading a runner on calories, help runners recover after a long run and, above all, taste good.
Gatorade Protein Recovery Shake
With 20 g of milk protein isolate and 44 g of carbohydrates to speed recovery, Gatorade's Protein Recovery Shake is said to have all the essential amino acids that are needed to aid in rebuilding muscle after a workout. Kelly Bastone of Runnersworld.com reviewed the shake, and reported that the benefits didn't stop at nutrition. Testers enjoyed the flavor, saying "our runner liked that it was light and smooth and didn't feel heavy in his stomach."
Met-Rx Meal Replacement Shake
Met-Rx's Meal Replacement protein shake has 38 g of their Metamyosyn protein blend to help build lean muscle and 20 g of carbohydrates to support glycogen stores. At 2.5 g of fat, it's a lean shake, but it's also true meal replacement with 240 calories. Dietitian Nancy Ling noted Met-Rx's shake in an article for Roadrunnersports.com, noting its nutrition and its value as a post-workout drink, saying that runners "can use these products for recovery after very intense workouts."
Slim-Fast Shakes
With its low cost relative to sports-specific shakes and its carbohydrate to protein ratio, Slim-Fast's meal replacement shakes are a cost-effective way to recover after a workout. The shakes vary slightly in nutritional value, but are all around 190 calories with roughly 24 g of carbohydrates and 10 g of protein to help runners recover after a workout. Testers at Runnersworld.com noted the taste as well as its effect, saying that the shakes were "easy to chug," and that their "legs felt fresher on runs."
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