ALWAYS IN SEARCH OF HEALTHY TREATS THAT WILL BOOST YOUR ENERGY BEFORE A RUN, BUT WON’T MAKE YOU FEEL BLOATED, OR GUILTY FOR EATING THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE? THEN CHECK OUT THESE THREE DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM ANITA BEAN’S LATEST BOOK!

CHRISTINA MACDONALD

NUTRITION

Anyone who has been running for some time may have noticed a healthy, balanced diet makes a huge difference to your energy levels while running. Eat the wrong foods, or go for long periods of time without eating, and you’ll feel weak and struggle to get the most out of your run. Eat too much too soon before a run, and you’ll feel bloated and sluggish.

But knowing what to eat and when is not always easy. One thing we do know is that, for those of us with busy lifestyles, having the right kind of healthy snack before a run will give you an energy boost and make that run feel easier.

Nutritionist and author, Anita Bean, has written and compiled The Runner’s Cookbook (£14.99, Bloomsbury), which has more than 100 recipes to fuel your runs – including some healthy snacks that not only taste great, but will get you through those long or intense running sessions. It also contains healthy meals and breakfasts, as well as a range of smoothies, all designed to improve your energy levels. Anita has worked with athletes from Olympic level to club runners and weekend fitness warriors for more than 25 years. In her book, she maintains she’s not a food evangelist and believes we should have the freedom to choose how we eat the way that best suits our lifestyles. However, she points out that current research supports a diet based on wholefoods, with plenty of fresh fruit, grains, beans, nuts and vegetables.