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A health-focused grocery list should include a variety of nutritious, nourishing fresh produce, proteins, and whole grains. But if you’re an athlete, such an important list requires a little more specification.

Athletes put their bones, muscles, brains, and hearts through frequent strenuous activity, all of which require particular nutritional support for sufficient growth, recovery, and stable energy levels.

The right food products can not only help you perform better as an athlete but also keep you going for longer, contributing to a more sustainable approach to long-term performance and endurance. They can also make you more resilient and serve as preventative care for injuries and ailments along the way.

Knowing what to shop for is key to unlocking your potential as an athlete and taking care of your body and mind in a way that extends beyond just basic health maintenance.

Products Every Athlete Should Have On Their Grocery List

A grocery list is a great way to keep track of what’s in your pantry and meal prep for the week ahead. Below is a list of food products every athlete can benefit from, regardless of their chosen sport. If you are plant-based, there are adaptations of this list you can use as a template for creating your own.

Eggs

Eggs are an easy way to meet your daily protein requirements. Versatile, tasty, and affordable, eggs should be on every omnivorous athlete’s grocery list for a multitude of reasons.

In addition to the benefits listed above, eggs contain selenium, riboflavin, antioxidants, Vitamin K, and choline, which are essential for focus and cognitive function. Of course, they’re also rich in protein, making them one of the most potent nutrient bombs on this list.

Nut butters

Nut butters are packed with healthy unsaturated fats and minerals that can be added to a vast number of different dishes and snacks. Peanut butter is a popular choice for its accessibility and high calorie count, but others, such as almond butter, cashew butter, or even macadamia butter, are good choices too.

On average, a 2-tablespoon serving of nut butter packs 7g of protein, as well as a long list of vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin E and B6, magnesium, folate, calcium, and more. This makes them filling and energizing and great for muscle recovery too.

Look for nut butters that have no added sugar or salt for the best results.

Frozen fruits

Many people are surprised to hear that frozen fruits can be even healthier than fresh fruits. This is because when fresh produce is frozen, it’s suspended at its peak nutritional value, making its potential for nutrient density higher than that of fresh varieties, whose nutritional value declines over time.

Frozen fruits are a very convenient way to stock up on vibrant, healthy fruits without worrying about them going off. They also work well in smoothies.

You can get all types of frozen fruit, including mangos, bananas, berries, and pineapples, all of which have their own nutritional profile. But all of which include a wealth of essential minerals like antioxidants, Vitamin C, potassium, and prebiotics, to name a few.

Oatmeal

The humble bowl of oatmeal is an athlete’s best friend. One of many complex carbohydrate sources, oatmeal contains soluble fiber that digests well and keeps you feeling full for extended periods of time.

It also contains a whopping list of nutrients, including potassium, phosphorus, copper, zinc, iron, antioxidants, and several B vitamins.

Whole grain bread

While fluffy, sugary, and salty white bread will not do your body any favors, quality wholegrain bread will. Whole wheat, whole rye, and whole oat bread are all very filling and fiber-rich sources of sustenance that will keep you full for much longer than regular white bread and can boost your daily nutrient dose.

Greek yogurt

Protein-packed and much lower in fat than similar products like mayo or sour cream, Greek yogurt—specifically Greek, not the regular plain yogurt—is a great pantry staple for athletes of all kinds. You can use it in smoothies, salads, as toppings, or even as a snack to get your protein and probiotics in.

The probiotics found in quality Greek yogurt help support the digestive system, making you process food in a more stable and consistent way before strenuous exercise.

High -fiber vegetables

The higher your vegetables are in fiber, the more endurance they will provide and the healthier your digestive system will be. Some of the vegetables with the highest fiber include:

• Artichokes
• Kale
• Sweet potato
• Beetroot
• Swiss chard
• Butternut
• Brussel sprouts

In addition to being rich in fiber, all of these vegetables contain a rainbow of vitamins and minerals that further enhance their value as grocery items and make you a better athlete.

Lean protein

There are a few sources of lean protein that athletes can add to their grocery list to meet their protein quota without consuming any unnecessary fats. Lean protein is healthier than heavy, processed varieties and can come in many different forms, some of which include:

• Fish (salmon, mackerel, tuna, and herring are all loaded with Omega 3 oils and plenty of lean protein)
• Turkey
• Tofu
• Beef

A tofu breakfast scramble, a turkey or beef sandwich for lunch, or a healthy fish dinner will help keep your body going for longer periods of physical activity and contribute to a healthier all-round gut. Plus, you can easily freeze all these protein sources, making them a pantry essential.

Fresh seeds

Seeds like linseeds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds are all rich in nutrients and minerals. Plus, they’re affordable and make tasty snacks that you can add to a variety of different recipes.

Zinc, iron, magnesium, potassium, and multiple B Vitamins can all be found in these crunchy little natural products. Eat them as toppings on salads or smoothies, in baked goods, or mixed into trail mix for an unmatched energy boost that the body and mind can benefit from.

Stock Up For Athletic Success

Being an athlete is physically and mentally demanding, and it requires a well-rounded diet in order to keep you healthy and strong. By consuming the right fruits, vegetables, and forms of protein, you can make sure that every trip to the grocery store is as important for your performance as a workout.