Breakfast Ideas

Top Pre-Workout Breakfast And Recipe Ideas

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Content updated: 22nd April 2024

You’ve got your gym clothes on, water bottle at the ready, all you need is a pre-workout breakfast. Stuck for ideas? Don't worry, we've got you covered with these top pre-workout breakfast and recipe ideas.

If you’re looking for a pre-workout boost, your favourite cereals are the quick and easy solution as you prepare to take on your early morning exercise routine. Did we mention they’re also delicious, either on their own or combined with fruits, nuts and seeds?

Here are some ideas for a breakfast before workout that you can have ready in seconds and eat just as fast.

WHAT TO EAT BEFORE RUNNING IN THE MORNING?

Whether you’re getting ready for your morning jog, your local 5k run, or you’re hitting the treadmill, it’s important to find out what breakfast works best for you, depending on the intensity of your workout. But a good starting point is your bowl of breakfast cereals.

Our wholegrain cereals Cheerios paired up with banana slices and peanut butter make a simple breakfast you can enjoy before heading out for your morning run. Discover our delicious cereal topping ideas and put your own twist on your morning cereal!

Man doing yoga in a blue tshirt and grey trousers

WHAT TO EAT BEFORE YOGA?

If you like the full English breakfast, make sure your yoga session is a safe few hours after the morning meal. For a quick and tasty start to the day (and more comfortable yoga postures) consider a combination of wholegrain cereals, skimmed milk and dried fruits instead.

Why not throw our Curiously Cinnamon wholegrain cereals into the mix and enjoy a taste sensation for breakfast?

Top tip: have your breakfast a couple of hours before your yoga session and keep a bottle of water nearby.

WHAT TO EAT BEFORE STRENGTH TRAINING?

Is weightlifting your go-to type of exercise? Try a pre-workout breakfast combining Greek yoghurt, a cup of fresh blueberries and Shreddies whole-grain cereals.

If you’ve got a pack of chia seeds waiting to be opened in the cupboard, add a teaspoon on top and you’ve got a quick breakfast, that’s delicious and ready to be enjoyed right before those endless push-up reps.

What to eat before swimming?

Going for a swim first thing in the morning?

It might be tempting to skip breakfast altogether than deal with the challenge of finding an appropriate meal before jumping into the pool. But the pre-workout meal doesn’t have to be complicated. We’re thinking banana, skimmed milk and our Shredded Wheat Honey & Nut make a good combo.

It’s recommended that you eat your breakfast at least an hour ahead of your swimming session.

WHAT TO EAT BEFORE A HIIT WORKOUT?

High Intensity Interval Training doesn’t sound like something you might want to try on an empty stomach. One of the best pre-workout breakfasts are overnight oats. It’s not only a delicious option, but it’s also effortless. Get your favourite ingredients, mix them up the night before and voila! A tasty breakfast awaits you in the morning.

If you’re not sure where to start, our Cheerios Apple-Cinnamon Overnight Cereal and Porridge idea takes the whole of five minutes to prepare and combines our Honey Cheerios with yoghurt, apple slices, oats, raisins and cinnamon. Need we say more?

What to eat before a workout? The basic rules.

Whatever idea inspires you the most, don’t forget a few basic rules when deciding what to eat before a workout:

Plan it ahead of time
Allow between 30 minutes to a couple of hours between breakfast and workout (this depends on the type of exercise, but it also varies from person to person, so find out what works best for you)
Drink water before, during and after your session to keep yourself hydrated

But most importantly try to avoid heading out the door on an empty stomach. With all these delicious options, all prepared in a few minutes’ tops, there’s no need to skip the most important meal of the day.

Need more tips for a stress-free start to the day? Check out our 14 simple tips to make every morning, a good morning.

WHAT TO EAT POST-WORKOUT? TIPS FROM A PARALYMPIC CHAMPION

An athlete’s life is made of early mornings and lots of training, so they’ll surely have a helpful tip or two for the occasional gym-goer. Have you ever wondered what professional athletes choose to eat once their workout is done? Discover top morning routine tips from Paralympic Champion wheelchair racer Hannah Cockroft OBE!

Now that you have your post-workout meal sorted, why not give your breakfast an extra boost with our top ideas for cereal toppings.

Morning Routine Tips

Bring The Cheer Cheerios graphic with ParalympicsGB and Nestlé Logos

BRING THE CHEER TO PARALYMPICSGB!

Did you know that Nestle Cereals are proud partners of British Paralympians?

Not only that, Cheerios and ParalympicsGB are on a mission to Bring The Cheer to the team as they compete on the biggest stage of all at the Paris Paralympic Game. Check out our Nestle Cereals and ParalympicsGB partnership page and make as much noise as possible!

Discover more about how you can support the British Paralympics at paralympics.org.uk.

Bring The Cheer