Nutrition Just for Training
It's not difficult to define a healthy diet: stay away from saturated and trans fats, eat healthy carbohydrates and adequate protein, and take in lots of fruit and vegetables. That's great for the general population, but what about the triathlete in training? Are there specific foods that should be on the list?
It has already been stated that you should increase your intake of carbs once your training starts. You need them for energy to get through your workouts. Good carbohydrate sources include:
Potatoes, preferably sweet potatoes
Fresh fruit or canned if it's not in heavy syrup
Fresh, frozen, and canned vegetables (but watch out for the sodium in some canned foods)
Cereal, bread, and pasta made from whole grains
Brown rice
Good protein sources for triathletes in training inlcude:
Lean meat
Tofu
Beans, nuts, and seeds
Eggs
Cheese
Yogurt (nonfat provides the same protein benefits)
Remember to limit the fat you include with these nutrition sources. Excess fat will slow you down in your training and may cause gastric problems.
