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Best Cookbooks For Runners: Our Top Picks

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Avid runners know that there is much more to health and fitness than just lacing up your sneakers. Although there are many popular topics among athletes, nutrition is always a huge topic of discussion. Tempting as it is to eat in restaurants, the best quality food you can sink your fork into is made in your own kitchen. If you are looking for recipes that can help you perform at your very best, have we got some amazing runners cookbooks for you!

So many people are hoping to build rock hard abs, for example, by just logging a few minutes a day on their back doing crunches. What few people seem to realize is that abs are made in the kitchen, not the weight room. Sure, you need to work the core in order to get that ripped look; however, without the proper food component, your work won’t net you the reward you are hoping for.

And it’s not just about building abs! If you are hoping to get the very most from your fitness regimen, you need to look at the big picture. Guess what? That big picture includes what you put on your plate.

Run Fast, Eat Slow

Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes

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The entire title is Run Fast, Eat Slow: Nourishing Recipes for Athletes. Shalane Flanagan, a world-class marathoner and Olympian, paired with chef Elyse Kopecky to create this brilliant cookbook.

When contemplating purchasing something new, it is always good to peek at reviews. This book receives 5 stars from 86% of the reviewers on Amazon! A common comment among purchasers is that they expected to find one or two great recipes and were pleasantly surprised. Runners found themselves enjoying recipe after recipe and each was as delicious as the last.

It is also true that sometimes cookbooks require people to have fancy ingredients and stellar culinary skills. This book is highly complimented for focusing on everyday ingredients and food is prepared in a way that practically anyone can do it.

In addition to having awesome recipes, it also features stories by Shalane Flanagan certain to entertain and inspire.

Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow

Run Fast, Cook Fast, Eat Slow

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The Flanagan and Kopecky dynamic duo is back at it, writing a cookbook with the same type of great advice with a slightly different slant. This time the book focuses on nutritious and delicious… and fast!

Chock full of pre and post-workout snacks, quick to make lunches and dinners you can prep and cook in 30 minutes or less, this is a busy person’s dream cookbook!

The No Meat Athlete Cookbook

The No Meat Athlete Cookbook

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Another highly rated option among all runners cookbooks, The No Meat Athlete is perfect for vegetarians, vegans and everyone else. This book is filled with whole food, plant-based recipes that are sure to fuel your running. But it does not stop there! These recipes will cover every aspect of your life.

Written by Matt Frazier, founder of No Meat Athlete and also a health coach, and food writer Stefanie Romine, this book covers the gamut of recipe types. You will find everything from breakfast to dinner recipes, and everything in-between.

Although you don’t have to be an athlete to enjoy the recipes in this book, it does focus on irrefutable science that will help you find greater health.

The Runner’s Kitchen: 100 Stamina-Building, Energy-Boosting Recipes

The Runner's Kitchen: 100 Stamina-Building, Energy-Boosting Recipes

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Two-Time Olympian Emma Coburn is a professional track and field athlete who also has a passion for creating meals that are both nutritious and delicious. Hot off the presses, this book was just released in December of 2020.

Coburn explains the type of nutrition that an endurance athlete requires and breaks it down in an easy to understand manner. Containing recipes for main meals, you will also find great ideas for healthy snacks. In addition, Coburn discusses fueling during your runs, as well as perfect recovery foods.  Leaving nothing to the imagination, you will find nutritional tips for peak training, taper week and the days leading up to a big race.

This cookbook is the perfect mix of one of the best runners cookbooks and advice from a very talented athlete and cook!

Racing Weight Cookbook

Racing Weight Cookbook: Lean, Light Recipes for Athletes (Racing Weight Series)

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This book is part of a series of cookbooks by Matt Fitzgerald and Georgie Fear. Built on the premise that runners can often benefit from keeping weight under control. Backed by science, the book is full of healthy recipes.

Reviewers compliment this book on being one that both runners and non-runners alike will enjoy opening when preparing a meal. In fact, one reviewer states that people should “not let the title fool you. Good food is good food, even for a 65 year old non-athlete.”

This book is one to add to your cooking repertoire.

The Athlete’s Palate

The Athlete's Palate Cookbook

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This book is based on a popular article in Runner’s World Magazine. Highlighting recipes from chef-athletes from around the globe, these recipes are used by runners just like you and me. Although reading recipes from elites is fun and interesting, it is equally as satisfying knowing that the recipe is something founded in the kitchen of a mere mortal like yourself.

If you are looking to improve your diet which, hopefully, will help you get the most out of your training, try out one of these runners cookbooks. Your new eating lifestyle is just a few excellent meals away!

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