When you are enjoying the ski slopes, you may not think about the exercise you are doing. However, an hour in the snow burns an average of 300 to 600 calories. In addition to that, we expose our body to extreme conditions such as low temperatures when skiing, which is why it is very important to reload our energy before, during and after skiing. In I Love Ski we know that, that is why today we will explain you how to meet your needs when it comes to eating healthy food.
What to eat to regain energy after skiing
As we have mentioned before, after spending a day in the snow, our body burns a large amount of calories. In addition to that, our body demands us for food when we expose it to continued cold temperatures.
That is why you need to keep in mind the following tips:
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Prepare your body for aerobic exercise such as skiing
When you go skiing, you are doing aerobic exercise. This means that your body is using carbohydrates and fat to convert them into energy. One way to keep them from running out is to eat meals high in fat and carbohydrates at least an hour before hitting the slopes. We can achieve this in a healthy way by drinking a glass of milk (or vegetable drink) and adding oatmeal or muesli flakes to it. Another healthy option would be a bowl of yogurt with cereals.
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Recover after skiing
The time to put your skis down has come, even momentarily. Your body, as we have mentioned before, has carried out aerobic exercise and will be low on reserves of nutrients. So, the time to return to a state of balance has come in order to recover those nutrients and muscle fibers.
It is very likely that when you decide to rest, it is already time for lunch or dinner. Vegetables should predominate in the ideal meal. Also, you need a quarter of carbohydrates and another quarter of protein to achieve a complete meal. A good example of a healthy dinner or meal would be a potato and chicken salad with nuts or rice with vegetables and tuna.
However, if you stop exercising at snack time, recovering nutrients is something as simple and healthy as eating a piece of fruit, quince or some dairy.
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Warm up again with healthy food during your ski trip
As you know, your body is constantly exposed to low temperatures when skiing. Therefore, we are going to give you some specific tips on healthy food that will help your body raise its temperature and will make it naturally nourished.
Adding vegetables and green leafy vegetables to your meal will hydrate and maintain your body’s temperature. Make a soup with vegetables and accompany it with eggs, meat or fish and you will have a perfectly healthy meal.
If you like spicy food, this tip is ideal for you. Cloves, cinnamon, turmeric or garlic, among others, will add flavor to your healthy food and increase your body temperature.
While being on the slopes, snacks are a healthy and useful choice because you don’t always have time to sit down and eat a hot dish that brings you back to temperature. Take a bunch of nuts with you so that your body is able to produce extra heat thanks to its high caloric content. Almonds, walnuts or cashews also make a healthy and high-calorie snack.
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Don’t worry about the height
Maybe, one of your concerns with your ski trip diet is that you are at a higher altitude than normal, which means that you could doubt whether your body needs extra help to be in its state of well-being or not.
Although it may seem that ski resorts are in very high areas, the great majority of them do not exceed 2000 meters of altitude, so they are considered to be at a low altitude. Therefore, the fact of being about 1000 meters high should not change your diet: maintaining a healthy and balanced diet will be enough.
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Don’t forget to keep hydrated
When we perform an aerobic exercise such as skiing, hydration is really important. If you are not used to drink water regularly throughout the day, we recommend you schedule rehydration periods before, during and after, in order to eliminate the risks of dehydration.
This tip is essential when you exercise yourself, because not only you run out of carbohydrates and fats, but you also lose your water reserves through sweating.
A tip to stay hydrated and warm is to mix your water intake with infusions and teas. This way you will be drinking liquids while you warm up your body. In addition to that, infusions and teas contain antioxidants, which help purify the body and help your digestion.
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Don’t forget your favorite food
In the end, you should keep in mind that not all ski resorts are close to your hometown. So, if you decide to travel abroad to enjoy the snow, do not forget to bring your favorite food with you, at least if you know that you are not going to find it there. Do not forget to put in your suitcase that snack that makes you feel at home even if you are miles away,