The CrossFit Diet – What Do CrossFit Athletes Eat?

Nutrition is the foundation, CrossFit is the lifestyle. Here all you need to know about the CrossFit diet and what do these athletes eat.

CrossFit workouts are physically demanding and fast-paced. They vary regularly and include gymnastics, weightlifting, and aerobic workouts like running and rowing, among others.

You must be adequately fuelled to perform at your best. CrossFit stresses eating macronutrients from entire plant foods, lean proteins, and good fats, and is relatively low in carbohydrates.

Here’s a look at the CrossFit diet in more detail, like what to eat and what to skip.

First, What Is A CrossFit Diet?

According to the CrossFit website, athletes should consume meat and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and some fruit.

They should also avoid starch, and sugar, or try limiting their diet to amounts that would help fitness but not body fat.

The specialized CrossFit diet is intended to lower blood sugar levels and decrease inflammation. This can help you lose weight and lower the risk of chronic diseases like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Reducing inflammation can help you heal faster from your workouts.

The Best Food For CrossFit Athletes

These foods help your body work at its best, supercharging it to the point where you’ll be flipping tires in no time! Keep reading to see what foods to stay away from.

1. Banana And Whey Smoothie

You can fuel and maximize regeneration after an exercise by replenishing glycogen reserves and protein for tissue repair.

Your body craves both fast-absorbing carbohydrates, such as those found in fruits and berries, and quick-to-absorb protein, such as whey.

Simply ensure that the whey protein powder is free of unnecessary chemicals and additives.

2. Lentils

Crossfitters are required to keep their protein consumption at around 30 percent of their daily caloric intake.

Lentils add nine grams of protein per half-cup to your dinner, along with a ton of fiber. They’re super versatile, so use them in soups, curry, and other dishes.

3. Some Coconut Oil

You could have bought a tub for shinier hair and healthier skin, but incorporating it into your diet is a must-do for CrossFitters.

Coconut oil is a great source of energy during exercises. Despite being a saturated fat, it is readily absorbed by the small intestine due to the medium-chain fatty acids.

This means it produces more energy more quickly than any other fat. The liver converts fats into an instant energy supply, similar to how sugars are converted, except without the sugar and starch!

Try a tablespoon of it before your workouts to see how much stamina and flexibility it gives you.

4. Get You Some Nuts And Seeds

Nuts and seeds are high in carbohydrates and omega-3 fatty acids, which can help you recover from a challenging CrossFit WOD.

Nuts and seeds are a perfect on-the-go snack or addition to a nutritious smoothie since they’re high in calories.

5. Potatoes, In Particular, Sweet Potatoes

For an energy boost, the body needs usable carbohydrates. Glycogen is processed in your muscles (and liver) as a result of carbohydrate digestion. Your body depends on glycogen in your muscles for energy to get you through your exercise.

Sweet potatoes are one of the greatest sources of energy. Sweet potatoes tend to maintain a stable level of nutrition by balancing blood sugar levels.

They’re also high in B6, which helps to combat the physical impact of tension on the body after a CrossFit workout, as well as antioxidants.

Vitamin C and beta-carotene are antioxidants that can reverse free radical damage sustained by exercise.

6. Peanut Butter And A Banana

For CrossFitters, this nutrient-dense snack is a lifesaver. If you’re a CrossFitter, the ideal snack would be a combination of carbs, calcium, and a small amount of good fat.

The banana is particularly valuable because it is high in potassium, which is needed to support the heart and skeletal muscles flex and contract during your exercise.

7. Strictly Brown Rice

Brown rice is healthier than white rice because it hasn’t been processed and stripped of nutrients. It’s also simple to digest and less likely to trigger bloating or blood sugar spikes.

Make a large batch at the start of the week and use it with a variety of meats, vegetables, and sauces.

8. Eggs (You Probably Saw This One Coming)

Eggs are a superfood for CrossFitters because they are high in calcium, B vitamins, and healthy fats.

An egg contains about 7 to 10 grams of protein. Starting the day with a few eggs boosts the normal protein intake.

9. Other Best Foods

The list of highly nutritious food for CrossFitters goes on and on. Other food items not stated above include:

• Almond butter;
• Oatmeal;
• Low-fat chocolate milk.

Please Avoid These Foods

You work out like a beast, however, if you eat certain foods, you’d not be helping yourself. Stop these at all costs, just as you would a “skinny fat” reputation! These foods include:

• Raw veggies for pre-workout;
• Carbohydrates with a high sugar content;
• Foods fried in oil;
• Cubes of bouillon;
• Processed foods;
• Alcoholic beverages;
• Bagels;
• Hamburgers;
• Yogurt (flavored).

Conclusion

The Zone Diet, as recommended by CrossFit, promotes a combination of lean proteins, non-starchy fruits, nuts, beans, and low-glycemic fruit while limiting starch and refined sugar.

Also, CrossFit encourages members of the global community to embrace healthier eating habits. From what foods you consume to how these foods are stored, you need to exercise extra caution to ensure you maintain optimum performance.

Since you will need to store the food in healthy bags that do not negatively affect the environment, buy custom compostable packaging for your kitchen.

Now that you have all the information you need on the CrossFit diet, it’s time to put it into practice. Create a workout schedule and fill your fridge with the healthy foods mentioned above.