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Kate Huber

Eating healthy food after workouts is critical to helping your body recover, according to IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science teacher, Jessica Gust.

“(Students should eat) real food because that’s what your body knows how to process the best,” Gust said.

Gust said she believes eating correctly after working out is necessary to recover from the strain of a workout.

“If you’re exercising correctly you’re damaging your muscle cells, you’re getting water loss, you’re using up nutrients,” Gust said. “To continue to improve you need to have protein from food, you need to have the vitamins and minerals from food, and you have to have the water from the food you eat and the water you drink.”

Junior Rosa Hu said she has a certain snack after ski workouts to help recover.

“We drink chocolate milk and eat baked potatoes after skiing to replenish,” Hu said.

Sophomore Jackson Sokolowski also skis. He said he has different snacks for after practice and after workouts, but he sticks to the same routine because he knows how his body reacts to the food.

“After practice I drink a recovery drink and eat a protein bar. Also in between races I eat potatoes and recovery drink,” Sokolowski said. “We know how our bodies react to these foods and it’s scientifically proven to help you.”

However, according to Gust, students don’t need to drink anything special after workouts as long as they maintain a healthy diet.

Gust also said there is no critical window for eating after workouts.

“It’s really just about making sure you’re getting in really good meals during the day,” Gust said. “As long as you’re getting an adequate amount of proteins, carbs, and fats during the day the timing isn’t super important.”