by Monica Petrucci

You’ve probably noticed that your workouts alone are not sufficient in maintaining a healthy weight or overall lifestyle. Maintaining an active body is important, but you also have to make sure you’re feeding it with the right nutrients, which can be difficult.It’s especially challenging if you have any diet restrictions, like vegetarianism.

The food that you fuel your body with is an essential part of your workout. Consuming protein, for instance, before and after exercise is important in getting the most out of your sessions. Protein is crucial in supporting your body’s endurance during a workout and ensuring a healthy recovery for your muscles after.  Without it, your muscle tissue could breakdown from all the wear and tear.

Many people’s first instinct is to turn to meat or other animal products to get protein. But have no fear, vegetarians and vegans! Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of delicious vegetables and nuts that serve as excellent sources of protein as well:

With as many options as these, there’s no excuse for anyone to opt out of a nutritious meal or snack that will encourage their active lifestyles!