Carb loading doesn’t have to be plain-old, durum wheat pasta every single time before every single race. It can be fun and tasty. Although white pasta is a good idea the morning of the race to avoid runner’s trots, carb loading can be full of good-tasting, good-for-you food. Wow yourself and wow your friends before the next race with these recipes:
1. Spiced Potato & Pea Parathas
Recipe from Katie At The Kitchen Door.
A paratha is a specialty of Indian cuisine, like an Indian calzone.
Ingredients:
Dough
- 1 cup Whole wheat flour
- 1 cup All purpose flour
- 1 tsp Salt
- Scant 1 cup lukewarm water
- 2 cups Spiced potato and pea filling, recipe below
- 2 tbs Vegetable oil
Filling
- 1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, scrubbed, and cut into 1- inch cubes
- 2 tbs vegetable oil
- 1/2 tsp Black mustard seeds
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
- 2 tsp Minced garlic or garlic mashed to a paste (1 large clove)
- 1 cup Finely chopped onion
- 2 Jalapenos, seeded and minced
- 1 cup Frozen peas
- 1 tsp Salt, or to taste
2. Rosemary & Garlic Roasted Potato Pizza
Recipe from Sea salt with food.
This potato-on-pizza-dough dish is a carb-on-carb delight. Potatoes and dough mean you’ll get plenty of energy.
Ingredients:
- 2 Packets (about 300 grams each) fresh pizza dough (available at Whole Foods Market)
- 6 tbs Fresh basil pesto, divided (recipe here)
- 1 Large fresh mozzarella, torn and divided
- 1 Bag (600 grams) fingerling potatoes, ½ inch diced
- 2 tbs Olive oil
- 4 Sprigs rosemary
- 4 Cloves garlic, smashed
- Sea salt
- Black pepper
- Chili flakes, optional
3. Yaki Udon with Dashi Butter
Recipe from Pickled Plum.
Why not get exotic before the big marathon? Udon is a Japanese wheat noodle. Try this to-die-for udon dish, but remember when carb loading, it’s important to eat foods your body is already familiar with, so make sure this one is worked into your diet beforehand.
Ingredients:
- 208 grams Packaged pre-cooked udon (or 3 ounces dry udon noodles)
- 1 tbs Butter salted
- 1 tbs Water
- 1/2 tsp Dashi powder
- 1 tbs Soy sauce
- 3 Stalks scallions chopped
- Shredded nori
- Bonito flakes (Katsuobushi)
4. Strawberry Quinoa Pancakes
Recipe from Recipe Runner.
Pancakes have been around since the days of Alexander Hamilton, but these are a new twist on an old classic.
Ingredients:
Strawberry Quinoa Pancakes
- 1 cup Red quinoa, rinsed
- 1/2 cup Whole wheat pastry flour
- 1/2 cup All purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tbs Granulated sugar or raw sugar
- 1 tbs + 1 tsp Baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 3/4 tsp Ground cinnamon
- 1 cup Skim milk
- 2 Egg whites
- 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp Almond extract
- 1/2 cup Strawberries, diced
Strawberry Sauce
- 1 lb. Strawberries, diced
- 2 tbs Pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
5. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Bowls
Recipe from Recipe Runner.
This one may be the perfect balance of everything. Sweet potatoes. Black Beans. Quinoa. Topped off with a special lime cilantro sauce. It will make you wish every day was race day eve. (Find out why everyone talks about Quinoa here.)
Ingredients:
Toasted Sweet Potato
- 1 large Sweet potato, peeled and diced
- 1 tsp Extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp Chili powder
- 1/4 tsp Cumin
- 1/4 tsp Kosher salt
Quinoa
- 3/4 cup Red quinoa
- 1 3/4 cups Water
- 1/2 tsp Kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 tsp Chili powder
- 1/2 tsp Cumin
- 1/4 tsp Garlic powder
- Juice from half a lime
- 2 tbs Cilantro, chopped
Cilantro Cream Drizzle
- 1/4 cup Plain non-fat Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup Cilantro, chopped
- 1/4 tsp Agave nectar or honey
- Juice of half a lime
- Pinch of salt, garlic powder, and chili powder
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup Black beans, rinsed and drained
- Cilantro for garnishing
DISCLAIMER: This post is not intended to replace the advice of a medical professional. The above information should not be used to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or medical condition. Please consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet, sleep methods, daily activity, or fitness routine. NordicTrack assumes no responsibility for any personal injury or damage sustained by any recommendations, opinions, or advice given in this article. Always follow the safety precautions included in the owner’s manual of your fitness equipment.
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/health/diarrhea/runners-diarrhea
http://katieatthekitchendoor.com/2014/02/12/spiced-potato-and-pea-parathas/
http://www.seasaltwithfood.com/2012/09/pesto.html
http://www.seasaltwithfood.com/2013/02/rosemary-and-garlic-roasted-potatoes.html
https://www.nordictrack.com/learn/where-the-american-public-nutritionists-disagree-on-food-health/
http://reciperunner.com/sweet-potato-black-bean-quinoa-bowls-2/
