Rocket Fuel, Tart cherry energy elixir + GIVEAWAY
This post is sponsored by the Cherry Marketing Institute.
I’m always looking for ways to improve my workout fuel game. Back in the day, I’d head out for a long run the night after a few cocktails, skip breakfast, and wonder why I hit a wall at mile 6. I’d feel frustrated that I couldn’t lift heavier weights for my deadlifts. And, I couldn’t understand why my energy was hit or miss while teaching classes. Finally, I started to dig in and learn about sports nutrition, and was shocked to see how much proper fuel positively affected my workout experience.
I fell in love with the sports chews and gels, and found that many of my favorite store-bought workout fuel items could easily be made at home using healthy ingredients. Here’s something I made recently, using one of my favorite recovery tools: Montmorency tart cherry juice.
Here are some of the benefits of this delicious little fruit:
Montmorency tart cherries have a high amount of anthocyanins, which are beautiful in color and have been demonstrated to protect the body against inflammation and various diseases. You can check out more of the benefits here. You can find tart cherries in frozen, dried fruit, capsule, and juice form.
To be effective, some sports nutritionists suggest using Montmorency tart cherry juice as a “precovery” drink.
All of the exercise-related studies have had athletes drink Montmorency tart cherry juice or consume tart cherries in other forms at least several days or a week prior to an event – as well as the day of and after. Soreness after a workout is caused by a combination of inflammation, muscle damage and oxidative stress – and researchers suggest the natural compounds in Montmorency tart cherries, including anthocyanins, may help with all three when consumed prior to working out, as well as after.
This little energy elixir is modeled after the energy gel you’ll find in the pouches at sporting good stores. The best part: it uses ingredients you may already have on hand and has the added benefits of tart cherry juice!
Other benefits:
Salt: electrolyte replenishment
Honey: carb replenishment (energy!). Increased energy can lead to increased performance! It’s also antibacterial and can boost the immune systems
Blackstrap molasses: vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium, magnesium, B6, and selenium
It’s a delicious mix of tart and sweet, with a slight kick of salt, following a sweaty workout. You can store it in little sport gel bottles or even reusable baby food pouches.
Here’s the recipe if you’d like to give it a try!
My friends at Tart Cherries sent me a new cookbook with lots of healthy recipes you can make at home to support your active lifestyle: Rocket Fuel. The author, Matt Kadey, is a Registered Dietitian and has created a cookbook packed with amazing recipes and new cooking ideas. I can’t wait to implement many of these in my rotation! All whole ingredients and super easy to make.
Here’s what you’ll find within the pages of Rocket Fuel:
126 recipe ideas for power-packed foods, snacks, and light meals including bowls, puddings, wraps, sandwiches, bites, balls, squares, bars, drinks, patties, cakes, stacks, drinks, smoothies, shakes, soups, muffins, sliders, pies, rolls, DIY energy shots, and all-natural sports drinks
33 Before, 43 During, and 50 After Exercise recipes
79 dairy free, 85 gluten free, 76 vegetarian, and 33 paleo-friendly recipes
Smart-yet-simple sports nutrition guidelines for before, during, and after exercise
Complete nutrition facts for every recipe
I also love that he really breaks down sports nutrition into a format that’s easy to understand and follow. I can’t wait to share it with a lucky reader friend!
Tart Cherries kindly offered a copy for a lucky winner, and I’d also like to share one of my latest fitness faves: a Fitbit Alta. I’ve been using it for about a month now to encourage activity throughout the day, track my sleep, and it’s my favorite Fitbit because of the smaller, sleek design.
Enter via the widget below! The lucky winner will be announced Tuesday morning.
I’ll see ya later today with Friday Faves!
xoxo
Gina
263 Comments
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For whatever reason my post workout snack lately has been string cheese? Couldn’t really tell you why, but it’s all I want after a rough workout. Usually I would reach for a protein shake, and I’ve been known to throw some tart cherry juice into the mix as well!
I drink 5 hour energy before long runs but have been looking for something a little more healthy! Will have to try this cherry concoction!
My favorite pre and post workout snack is daves killer bread with peanut/almond butter and banana and coffee.
I have to try to not eat EVERYTHING after a tough workout. 🙂
Thanks for the awesome giveaways! I may have to buy this book too!
Fun! I’ve been looking into getting the Alta 🙂
I like to refuel with Quest Bars after my workout, but like to switch it up every now and again.
Banana with almond butter
I like the banana/nut butter combo for workout fuel! Sometimes with a slice or two of turkey.
Thanks for a fun giveaway.
Awesome giveaway! I have had my eye on the Alta.
I can’t wait to incorporate more cherry juice into my workouts. Perhaps a smoothie with oats for a cherry pie feel?
I follow on Insta!
I use XS Sports Nutrition for my pre/post workout – and I love to add tart cherry juice to those products as well. 🙂
I like putting a splash of cherry in my tea. It’s so delicious!
My favorite post workout fuel is a protein smoothie.
I love smoothies post-workout. Right now my favorite mix is banana, chocolate protein powder, almond milk, coconut flakes and almond butter!
MMMM would love to check out Alta!
I refuel with my next meal!
This giveaway is sweet!
I follow you on instagram!
My favourite pre-workout fuel is toasted english muffin with peanut butter and jam (or sliced banana). My post-workout fuel varies depending on the length and intensity of the workout. So sometimes it is pizza and other times is a small glass of smoothie.
Coffee! Haha.
I love tart cherry juice! I’m going to have to try this recipe. Awesome giveaway!
Tart cherry juice is sooo helpful for my husband’s arthritis.
I follow on Insta as well!
Oh that sounds like an amazing thing for muscle recovery! How interesting, I’d love to try it.
I’d also love to use one of those fit bits, it would be great for the upcoming summer 🙂
I love tart cherry juice! I also really want to try the fitbit alta.
I love banana and peanut butter! Thanks for a great giveaway!
Post workout, if I’m really hungry, is always a good protein smoothie bowl with a little granola on top 🙂
I like to workout first thing in the morning, so I usually have a banana and eat oatmeal or eggs after my workout.
I follow you on instagram!
Ugh I’m terrible about eating before because it upsets my stomach but after I make a protein smoothie with banana, spinach, cherries and protein powder. It always hits the spot!
My favorite pre-workout snack is an apple and almond butter!
I follow you on Instagram as well 🙂
If I am working out during my lunch break then my go to recovery snack is protein powder mixed with water followed by my actual lunch when I get back to the office. if I am home then it is usually peanut butter and a piece of fruit. 🙂
My favorite pre-workout food is toast with PB and honey. My favorite post-workout recovery drink is chocolate milk and/or a Vitamin Water. 🙂 Can’t wait to try cherry juice before my next half marathon.
This sounds perfect for my training!!
I love chocolate milk after a long run.
I follow on instagram
Tortilla with Peanut butter is a favorite pre workout snack of mine!
I love anything tart so I definitely will find any excuse to add these into my routine!
I follow you in Instagram
I also follow you on instagram!
Such a fun giveaway!
A banana is my favorite pre and post swim snack.
I’m a fan of all kinds of nut butters, so I usually will either go for a spoonful of that or smear some on a banana.
Post workout is a banana. I’m an early morning runner (5am!) so pre workout snack doesn’t happen. But I’m gearing up to start training for the NYC marathon which has a late start time, so I’m going to need to start training later which will require pre-run meal/snack.
I’d love to try this!
I just got some new energy chews to try before a workout but have been sidelined for a knee injury. Can’t wait to try them.