It’s a common myth that people can eat “whatever” they want after hitting the gym. Your body just burned a lot of calories, so you should reward yourself and refuel with whatever you can find, right?
Nothing could be further from the truth, as you need to refill your body with healthy, high-protein meals that are going to build up muscles while keeping you in top shape. You can’t just settle for guzzling a gallon of protein shakes a day either.
That’s why meal-prepping is important. Not only will you be able to schedule your meals after workouts, but you’ll also be able to know what to shop for at the grocery store at the beginning of each week.
Below, we’re going to run through six great meals that are loaded with protein for you to enjoy. We made an effort to find as many simple recipes as possible, so you won’t accidentally burn your kitchen down or just stick with baked chicken and rice…again.
Stuffed Peppers
Now, I know we said this would be easy, but this one may creep up into the moderate difficulty setting.
But, stuffed peppers aren’t that hard to make. Grab some beef or rice, olives and goat cheese along with your peppers. Cut the peppers in half before removing the seeds and center part. Cook the beef or mix your vegetables together and put them inside the peppers.
Set them to bake for 8-10 minutes before pulling them out of the oven. The whole process takes about 15-20 minutes and then you’re good to go. It’s also a great dish if you’ve got a cold, as peppers are loaded with Vitamin C.
Steak and Bean Bowls
If you’re a fan of Chipotle, you’re going to love this. If you’re on a time crunch, you might need to have cooked and cut up the steak ahead of time so you’re not waiting around for this delicious meat to be ready.
In addition to the meat, you’ll need lettuce, lime rice, your choice of vegetables, and a cup of black beans. After that, it’s pretty easy.
Make sure the bean and steak are warm for maximum taste, and then just mix everything together. You can add a hot sauce if you want and bit of salt and pepper for flavoring. Other than that, the whole ordeal will only take you about 15 minutes.
Avocado Chicken Salad
There are tons of delicious recipes for chicken out there, so we picked this one out of a hat. Avocados are all the rage these days, as they give you a bit of protein and plenty of healthy fats.
Instead of using mayo for your salad, cut up some avocados or use some greek yogurt in order for the perfect substitute. Mash up your avocado before hand with the yogurt for your mix and then throw the chicken in the bowl.
Some people like to put the salad on an English muffin or bed of lettuce, so we’ll leave that up to you. It’s best to use pre-cooked chicken or rotisserie chicken. All in all, you can be finished with this meal in less than 15 minutes.
Mongolian Beef
Did someone say stir fry? Perhaps the best bang for your minute, stir fry is incredibly easy to make, takes almost no time at all, and is plenty nutritious. It will also add a little zing to your regular diet.
Make sure you have plenty of steak for this big meal and grab some soy sauce and hoisin sauce as well. If you’re a spice fan, pick up some chili sauce for that kick. Get your veggies, like cloves, peppers, onions, and broccoli.
Throw your beef into a pan and saute it until it’s cooked. Pour in the mixture of your sauces together and let it marinate a while. You can either cook your veggies separate or together with your beef, it’s really up to you.
After you’re done, you can either serve it on top of rice or just have it plain. There’s no wrong way to do it. Even though this may seem like a bunch of steps, it’s an easy meal you can make in less than 25 minutes.
