Getting the right balance of what to eat and when to eat it can be tricky when you first start running, there is some trial and error involved as all of our bodies react differently.
It’s not wise to run right after eating because it can lead to cramping and stitches, and when you eat your body uses energy to digest the food which effects your running performance and how far you can go. Alternatively, running on an empty stomach may cause you to run out of energy completely so you want to make sure that you’re fueled up adequately.
I would suggest you eat a light meal about 1 1/2 hours before running as a good starting point but you may want to adjust this either way depending on your body. As with any area of health & fitness, always listen to your body, it will tell you what it needs.
As far as what to eat, pick something high in carbohydrates that’s easy to digest. Good fuel foods include: bagels, English muffins, whole wheat bread; bananas, dried fruits, cereals & milk. As far as how much, you’ll know what volume works for you so adjust accordingly. Keep a track of what you ate, when you ate it and how you performed so that you can fine tune this process over the next 2 or 3 runs until you find a formula that works best for you and your body.
Photos by David Baird