You’re pumping iron. You’re crossing that finish line in record time.

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Whatever you’re doing, you’re breaking through some sort of athletic threshold. You’re pushing your body to the limits, towards a fabulous unknown that is both exhilarating and — admittedly — painful.

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Your post-workout recovery is just as important as the workout itself.

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A strenuous workout or hard run puts you through the wringer, putting your body under a great deal of physical strain. Just like how muscles need some wear and tear, it also needs some tender, loving recovery.

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Sure, you got your light stretches, post-workout protein drinks, and the dreaded — but beloved — ice bath, but why not spice things up?

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Your workout journey is a unique one, with you and your health at the center of it all. Why not have fun with it? Here are some workout recovery recipes that are off the beaten path.

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1. Chocolate Milk

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Our running readers know all about this one. That’s right, chocolate milk can do more for us than remind us of past childhood glories. It can help you take a literal better foot forward toward your health journey.

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A study conducted by the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism found that athletes reached their time-to-exhaustion later when drinking chocolate milk than other popular workout drinks like Gatorade.

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Why is this?

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Chocolate milk is chock full of surprising health benefits for your workout recovery needs. More specifically, it contains a large number of carbohydrates and proteins.

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Carbohydrates help with workout recovery by replenishing your body’s glycogen stores, which act as fuel for your body during exercise.

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The protein content in chocolate milk helps repair muscle breakdown during the workout. Not to mention, chocolate milk is just so darn tasty.

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Whether you went above and beyond for leg day or you just finished a relaxing recovery run, chocolate milk is a sweet and savory workout recovery recipe.

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2. Ants on a Log

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This might not be the craziest workout recovery recipe, but it most definitely has the weirdest name.

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If you’re a fan of the polarizing trio of peanut butter, celery, and raisins, then you just might reach a breakthrough in your workout journey.

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For those who haven’t had ants on a log since recess, indulge on this culinary, carb-filled contraption.

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You’re getting a healthy helping of fat and protein from the peanut butter, while the raisins give you a nice boost of carbohydrates. Then to literally top it all off, the raisins will offer some more-than-welcome micronutrients and antioxidants.

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It’s delicious, (especially if you’re a celery lover), nutritious, and visually striking — a piece of culinary art. What’s not to love?

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3. Protein Coffee

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Finding a workout routine while working a full-time job can be stressful. Sometimes it feels like planning the workout can be more strenuous than the workout itself.

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For the morning workout readers, it’s no secret that getting out of bed before the crack of dawn can be its own test of intestinal fortitude.

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Give yourself that extra push to work out with a good ol’ cup of caffeinated goodness. Coffee has always been the go-to pick-me-up for daytime workers and college students. Shake the foundation of the norm with one simple ingredient: protein powder.

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Splash a little protein powder in your morning coffee before you head out to the gym. It will help you dust off the physical and mental cobwebs as you begin to seize the day.

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It’s best to mix protein powder with black coffee, no added sugars or creamer needed. Let the protein powder do the tasty heavy lifting. Before you know it, you’ll be the one doing the heavy lifting.

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This can work for both pre- and post-workout, or even during the workout when you just can’t get out of some sleep-induced slump.

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This will mainly benefit athletes who already drink coffee. For those already coasting without caffeine, no need to fix what isn’t broken.

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Check out our “How Your Caffeine Intake Affects Your Productivity” blog to learn more about the wonders and hindrances of caffeine.

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4. Some Good Ol’ Burgers

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Nothing is better than a tasty burger. Whether you’re enjoying one during a summertime 4th of July BBQ or in the middle of a road trip, burgers have that innate ability to hit the spot whenever you need it to.

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Such is the case when it comes to workout recovery recipes. As you probably figured out, we’re not suggesting that fast-food burgers are the key to restorative workout recovery. Burgers can be more than just meat.

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That’s where meat substitutes come in.

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As you probably well know, the burger industry is so expansive, that carnivores and vegans alike can enjoy their own courses without sacrificing their respective nutritional or moral values.

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Best Health Mag offers a slew of healthy burger recipes that can easily double as workout recovery recipes.

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Whether you’re in the mood for chicken, turkey, lentil, or even mushroom burgers, the internet is your best friend to shake up your burger-eating habits as well as your workout recovery routine.

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5. Make it a Meal

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As we alluded to in the previous section, workout recovery recipes do not only have to be a single piece of celery or a splash of powder into your morning coffee. Sometimes the best workout recovery recipes are entire meals.

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Substitute the scarcity with healthy greens and truly nutritious foods. You likely already know the basics. As we’ve established here, the best workout recovery recipes focus on healthy carbohydrates and protein.

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The best kind of recovery is a healthy one. It can also be a tasty one.

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Conclusion

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They say your health is 80% diet and 20% exercise. For all your gains, you also need to pay attention to your whole grains.

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Workout recovery is the bridge between your workout and dietary habits. Make it a sturdy, dependable one as you navigate through your health journey.

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If you’re an early riser, get some tasty protein powder to go with that morning coffee. For burger lovers, there are recipes that let you enjoy a good burger with a clear conscience.

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Whatever your health journey consists of, make sure your workout recovery recipes steer you on the sunny path toward a healthy mind, body, and soul.