Power up this Bike Month
Gearing up for Bike Month and wondering how to keep your energy levels up so you can enjoy all of your favourite events?
You're in luck: CLIF Bar Nutrition Ambassador and Registered Dietitian Abby Langer has some nutritious, delicious, and portable snacking ideas to keep your pedalling all through the month (and beyond).
Onto you, Abby!
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Cycling is a great way to get some exercise, to get places, and also to do something as a family! Whether you’re going on a short, challenging ride, or a long, leisurely adventure with the whole family, you’re going to have to power up before you leave. No one wants to run out of gas on their bike!
Bringing snacks along on your bike to keep you going strong doesn’t have to be difficult, but portable, non-messy choices are the best options. You need foods that don’t require refrigeration, and it’s also important to have a source of carbohydrates, protein, and fat, to provide you with long-lasting energy.
Here are some of my favorite family-friends biking snacks to take along for your expeditions.
Fruit and nut butter pouches
I absolutely love those little individual-sized pouches of nut butters, because they travel everywhere and and super-neat. Bring one along with a piece of fruit like an apple or a banana, and eat them together for a lasting source of energy.
Beef (or non-meat) jerky and dried fruit
Jerky will stand up to warm temperatures, and it’s a great source of protein. Pairing it with dried fruit like apricots, will add some carbohydrate to the mix, replenishing your energy quickly while keeping you satiated until you’re done your ride.
CLIF Kid Zbar
These delicious kid-focused organic bars are perfectly portioned and balanced in nutrients. A source of whole grains, kids can choose from either the original bars or, the new nut butter-filled ones coming this summer. They come in a variety of flavours, and for a small snack, adults love them, too.
Sandwich with hummus and avocado
I love this combination! I season it with smoked paprika, cilantro, salt, and cumin, and wrap it up to bring with me everywhere. Sure, it might squish a bit, but it’s so delicious that you’re not going to care. It won’t spoil on long rides, and it’s super satisfying. Add a bit of hot sauce if you like things on the spicy side.
Don’t forget to check out Clif Bar’s booth at Bike to Work Day for a sneak peek of their new CLIF Nut Butter Filled energy bars. Have a great summer, pedal on, and enjoy the sunshine!
ABOUT ABBY
Abby Langer RD is a communications and consulting dietitian based in Toronto and is the owner of Abby Langer Nutrition, a nutrition communications and consulting business. She is a regular Huffington Post blogger and has been featured in radio, print, and television media in both the US and Canada. Abby has been a CLIF Bar Nutrition Ambassador since 2014 and lives in Toronto with her husband and her two daughters.