Riding your horse is a workout. We’ve been exploring ways to get physically fit for riding in the Fit Rider column in Horse Illustrated this year. But have you thought about appropriate fuel for the ride?
A lot of equestrians will be hitting the trails this summer, and if your rides go longer than a couple of hours, you’ll want some nutrition as you ride. You might think that easy-to-grab granola bars are the best bet for a healthy snack, but did you know some of those granola bars have more than 20 grams of sugar? That’s almost half of your entire allotment for sugar in a day (based on a 2,000 calorie diet) in a single bar.Photo by jdj150 on flickr/CC BY 2.0<
Of course, you might not feel compelled to snack on the trail on a hot day, but you need that little extra boost of protein and carbohydrates to get you through that last mile.
“Choosing healthy snacks that contain lean protein can keep you from getting overly hungry, which can lead to overeating later in the day,” says Lindsay Livingston. Livingston is a registered dietician from Columbus, Ohio, who also has a blog at The Lean Green Bean, a website full of healthy and delicious recipes that are easy to make and friendly for people of all ages and walks of life.
Livingston also points out that when choosing snacks, you want to try to aim for a combination of protein and carbs—that will give your snack more staying power.
Some easy-to-pack ideas for the ride include:
Homemade protein balls and bars are also easy make and pack away, plus you have the bonus of knowing exactly what’s in your food, without any extra sugar. Here are a couple recommended recipes:
from The Lean Green Bean
from Recipe Runner
Also, homemade trail mix allows you to put your favorite things in an easily packed zipped baggie—nuts, seeds, dried fruit (but watch the added sugar on some dried fruit), some low-sodium pretzels.
Don’t forget to pack plenty of water. Avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks and alcohol, as these drinks will dehydrate you rather than hydrate.
And, one last point, make sure you don’t litter while on the trail. Store your food packaging away until you get back to the trailer or the barn and can dispose of it properly.
Megan Arszman is a freelance writer based in Indiana, where she’s learning to balance motherhood with horses, dogs and writing.
Those recipes sound good and nutritious. Have to give them a try.
great info
I will have to try to make those bars.
I like the idea of sharing, apples and carrots with my best friend, my horses.
Treats sound good.
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