Your pre-race nutrition plan includes the meals you have the night and morning before the Cape Town Marathon. Follow these guidelines for the best energy sources that are least likely to upset your digestive system.
THE NIGHT BEFORE
Try These
The ideal meal to enjoy before a marathon would include a good balance of protein, carbohydrates and healthy fats.
These are a few favourites:
Grilled beef (or meat of your choice) with fried mushrooms and mashed potato
Seared tuna with avocado salad and grilled sweet potato wedges
Grilled fish with baked sweet potato and steamed vegetables
Cottage pie with steamed carrots and peas
Baked butternut with a feta cheese topping is ideal a meat-free option
Quiche with vegetables and feta cheese
Roasted potato, sweet potato, butternut & chick peas is a tasty vegan option
Pasta dishes: spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne or pasta with any meat-based sauce of your choice would provide ample carbohydrates and protein.
Avoid
Too much fibre: to give your digestive system a break on race day, avoid too much roughage from salads, vegetables and wholegrain foods
Chicken: food safety first – if you did not cook the chicken yourself, it is not worth it to take the risk of digestive upsets or food poisoning
Raw fish: even though sushi is a firm favourite, it is not ideal the night before the race, due the risk of bacterial contamination
Creamy sauces: if you are not used to creamy dressings and sauces, avoid these, as they can upset your digestive system
Hot and spicy meals: race day is not the day that you want to suffer with heartburn and digestive system irritation!
BREAKFAST IDEAS
The best options would be what worked for you as pre-race breakfasts in the past. Don’t surprise your stomach with new and exciting foods on race day!
Toast:
Made from bread of your choice, this is an easy pre-race breakfast option. Ideal toppings:
Peanut butter
Marmite or Bovril
Cheese
Jam or honey
Egg: boiled, poached or scrambled
Cereals
High protein cereals with no added sugar present healthier options to sustain your energy.
Look out for the following on cereal boxes to select the best options:
Low GI
Lowest sugar content / No added sugar
Protein above 10g per 100g
High fibre
Allergens
Enjoy with almond or rice milk if you cannot tolerate cow’s milk.
For more information, visit: http://www.capetownmarathon.com/ ; www.fedhealth.co.za
For any nutrition related questions, visit: www.facebook.com/andreaduplessis.nutrition.expert
DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is for educational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms or need health advice, please consult a healthcare professional.
