Weekend workouts are my favorite. Instead of the rush of an early morning weekday fitness class, I get to sleep in and spend more time stretching and cooling down. I also have plenty of time to dream up the perfect post-workout meal: a variety of delicious veggies combined with eggs, bacon, and cheese. Does this high-protein post-workout meal sound too good to be true? Luckily, it doesn’t. I created this dish because after a hard workout, you need to refuel and it has to taste as good as it’s nutritional. Here’s why this Southwest Breakfast Skillet is the best high-protein post-workout meal:
I’ve always been an athlete. I swam and played soccer as a kid, but I wasn’t very good at it. In middle school I got into volleyball and tennis, and continued in high school. I quickly learned that exercise isn’t just about effort, athleticism, and strength, it’s also about nutrition. I remember one time a classmate’s mom brought us some donuts before a volleyball game. Of course we ate them, but our performance in the game was disastrous. The sudden sugar intake during the warm-up had worn us off, and we were left feeling sluggish after eating high-carb, high-saturated-fat foods. The coach wasn’t impressed, and donuts were banned (at least before games).
In college, I joined the cycling team and was lucky enough to work with a coach there who really cared about performance. Her holistic approach included general things like weightlifting, drills, and long distance cycling for endurance, but also nutrition. She encouraged us to think of the food we eat as fuel, teaching us that vegetables, fruits, and whole grains not only make us feel good, but also help us perform better. I loved it so much that I changed my major from fashion design to nutrition around the same time.
Even as an adult, I still love exercising. Exercise is how I stay mentally and physically healthy. Anyone who knows me knows I love to train hard. If you can get me into a HIIT class, I’m a blessing. But that class wouldn’t be possible without proper nutrition before and after. And as I’ve gotten older, post-workout nutrition has become even more important.
Exercise is exhilarating! Endorphins are pumping along with your heart, lungs and muscles. It’s a lot of effort and energy expended. You need to refuel to both repair and recover. Carbohydrates and protein are the ultimate combo for recovery. That’s why this skillet starts with potatoes, which are not only rich in carbohydrates but also contain potassium, an important electrolyte for hydration. Eggs and cheese add protein to help rebuild and repair muscle tissue. That’s why this dish packs in a whopping 17 grams of protein per serving. Throw in some veggies for color and fiber, and you’ve got a one-dish meal that’ll have you feeling ready for your next workout in no time.
If it all seems too hard, I mean, to you. did Just exercise! And try to prepare your ingredients ahead of time. You can chop all your veggies ahead of time, or consider buying them pre-cut from the produce section or salad bar. And while I love recipes that follow the recipe, feel free to adjust the ingredients based on your preferences and what you have on hand. Any combination of veggies will be delicious!
