Exactly What to Eat Before Your Next Workout, According to an R.D.

RELATED: 7 Foods I Prep Each Week to Make Sure I Eat as Healthy as Possible 

So what should you grab? “The best pre-gym snack should have mostly easily-digestible carbohydrates,” says Moskovitz. She recommends reaching for simple snacks like a banana or two-thirds a cup of plain whole-grain, low-sugar cereal like Cheerios with almond milk. But watch your intake. If you’re squeezing in a quick sweat session (an hour or less) you probably only need 15 to 20 grams of carbs to power you through—that’s about half a banana. If you’re going for a longer gym sesh, up your carb content a bit, “or even better, bring a mid-workout snack to keep energy levels up,” she says. (Rethink the way you eat—and slim down—with Women’s Health’s The Body Clock Diet!) 

RELATED: 6 Foods to Eat When You’re Working Toward a Six-Pack 

It’s also OK to get a little protein pre-gym. “It’s more important to consume post-workout for muscle recovery, but before the gym five to 10 grams of protein at most is okay,” says Moskovitz. Think a handful of pretzels with hummus, rice cakes with almond butter, or a half cup of cooked oatmeal with blueberries.

Whatever you do, stay away from foods high in fiber and fat, since both nutrients—unlike simple carbs—take the body longer to break down—a.k.a. sweat sesh sabotage.