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After a long day or a tough workout—and sometimes both—a meal like pesto chicken pasta (slides 6, 13, 20, 38) will refuel and recharge your body thanks to its high-quality carbs, potassium, magnesium, and iron. We’ve also highlighted some of our favorite veggie dinners.
CA Notice at Collection Best Packaged Foods for Runners, were selected with help from our panel of experts: Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Kelley Pritchett, Ph.D., R.D., sports nutrition professor at Central Washington University; Emily Edison, M.S., R.D.; and Marni Sumbal, M.S., R.D. (Let RW help you out with that shopping list! Get a carefully curated selection of our favorite items when you subscribe to the new Runner’s World Box.)
Note: Runner's World editors independently select the products we feature. If you choose to purchase a product from one of our affiliate partners, we earn a commission from the sale, which helps fund all the other work we do.
Beyond Meat: the Beyond Burger
Juicy and garlicky chicken is lower in fat than pork. The herbs replace some of the salt to keep sodium levels in check.
Buy it: AlFrescoAllNatural.com
Alexia Sweet Potato Fries with Sea Salt
Try this unfried sweet potato variety (full of vitamin A) with sea salt, which has magnesium, zinc, and potassium.
Buy it: Alexiafoods.com
packaged foods for a quick and healthy meal
Quinoa is the only grain with complete protein. And this trio of beige, red, and black quinoa delivers a ton of flavor.
Buy it: Thrive Market
Amy’s Light & Lean Spinach Lasagna
Spinach fills in for less cheese, making this heat-and-eat lasagna lighter in calories (250 per container).
Buy it: Amys.com
Amy’s Light & Lean Spinach Lasagna
Cook up a buttery fillet with omega-3s and lean protein. Bonus points for sustainable farming practices.
Buy it: TheBetterFish.com
Barilla Whole Grain Linguine
Pasta made with 100% whole wheat has more fiber and important nutrients like magnesium than its counterparts.
Buy it: Amazon
Ian’s Chicken Nuggets
Even an Italian grandmother would approve: organic iron-rich beef and plenty of tomato goodness (which is high in antioxidants).
Buy it: BeetnikFoods.com
Evol Bean, Rice & Cheddar Burrito
Walking Could Add 11 Years to Your Life, Study.
“We’re not vegan, but we eat Evol Bean, Rice & Cheddar Burrito because it tastes awesome and is easy to make. Not to mention packed with protein!” —Erin Benner, Art Director
Buy it: Beyondmeat.com
Walking Could Add 11 Years to Your Life, Study
This frozen meal, with lentils, green veggies, and bulgur, has 12 grams of fiber and 13 grams of protein per 1 ½-cup serving.
Buy it: Pinnaclefoodscorp.com
Birdseye Tri Color Pepper and Onion Blend
With all the prep work taking care of for you, toss this vitamin C loaded mixture of sliced rainbow peppers and chopped onion into stir-fry, pasta dishes, and tacos.
Buy it: PinnacleFoodsCorp.com
Bob’s Red Mill Organic Cracked Freekeh
Middle Eastern freekeh cooks quickly and is a good source of protein and fiber (7 and 8 grams, respectively per 1/4 cup serving).
Buy it: Amazon
Alter Eco Organic Rainbow Heirloom Quinoa
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Buy it: Amazon · Walmart · Thrive Market
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This power trio of organic spinach, kale, and chard will also up the nutritional clout of sautés, soups, chilis, and smoothies.
Buy it: EarthboundFarm.com
Evol Bean, Rice & Cheddar Burrito
This nuke-ready burrito, stuffed with pinto beans and brown rice, has a good balance of carbs, protein, and fat, and less sodium than other brands.
Buy it: Evolfoods.com
Nutrition - Weight Loss
Fill up on these corn tortilla bundles of lean chicken, cheddar cheese and black beans slathered in a spicy tomato sauce. Packed with fiber and protein (6 g and 19 g per serving, respectively), this is a great postrun lunch.
Buy it: EvolFoods.com
GardenLites Butternut Squash Soufflé
Hungryroot Sweet Potato Noodles with Creamy Cashew Alfredo.
Buy it: TheHealthFoodStore.com
Grainful Jambalaya
Fiber-rich, steel-cut oats add a creative twist to this smoky, tomatoey jambalaya. Serve as a side, or beef it up with some protein and a few handfuls of baby greens.
Buy it: Amazon
Hungryroot Sweet Potato Noodles with Creamy Cashew Alfredo
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Buy it: Hungryroot.com
Jennie-O Extra Lean Boneless Turkey Breast Tenderloins
A 4-oz. serving has 26 grams of protein (runners need .54 to .91 gram per pound of body weight).
Buy it: JennieO.com
Matthew Kadey, M.S. R.D. is a Canada-based registered dietitian and nutrition journalist with two decades of experience in reporting about food and nutrition for dozens of print and online publications. Kadey is the author of Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sports + Adventure. He is also an adventure cyclist and creator of several bikepacking routes in North America and beyond. Find him at matthewkadey.com, @rocketfuelfood
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