Orange Vanilla Protein Smoothie

For the young athlete on the go, smoothies make an excellent pre-workout snack to fuel an intensive sports practice or game. Many athletes avoid eating large meals before participating in vigorous activities or choose not to eat at all which can contribute to low energy and performance.

I tell my own kids, who play several sports, to make sure they eat enough of the right foods before playing to get them through any given session. It is important to fuel the body of a young athlete with the nutrition they need. Imagine you are a car. In order for the car to run, it needs fuel. If you plan on driving for a long distance, you need to make sure you have enough gas to take you to your destination. However, if you only fill up your tank with a few gallons of fuel, not only will you not get to your destination, you may be hurting the mechanics of the car as well.

The body works the same way. You need to eat enough of the right kinds of food to fuel the body for optimal performance. More strenuous activities require more fuel. Smoothies make a great pre-workout snack because of the immediate glycogen and glucose the body uses to draw energy from. These smoothies also make a great post-workout recovery drink because of how the glycogen helps shuttle protein back into the muscles, which helps protect lean muscle mass.

This particular Orange Vanilla Protein smoothie is a nice citrus pick-me-up that is a great source of Vitamin C, potassium, and protein. Next time you or your kids need a quick and easy energy boost before a sports event or right after, try this smoothie. It makes a great healthy snack that will give you the edge you need to play hard and have fun.