A 3-Day Meal Plan for Triathletes

triathletes eating


Triathletes are busy people. It isn't easy training for one sport, and these athletes have three disciplines to tackle. Actually, make that four as most consider nutrition to be the fourth component of the swim-bike-run. While attention might be paid to what is consumed to fuel the individual training performances, too often normal meals and snacks gets overlooked.

Nailing nutrition day to day is crucial to staying healthy and performing well in the long term. Triathletes have the unique complication of multiple training sessions a day, sometimes back to back and other times separated by hours, which makes frequent small meals more appropriate for meeting nutrition timing needs. For these athletes, meal prep and planning can be especially helpful in maintaining healthful eating that meets energy demands. 

Sample Day 1: Morning Swim + Lunch 4-Mile Run

  • Pre-swim snack: banana and coffee 
  • During swim: drink mix, roughly 30 grams carbohydrate
  • Post-swim breakfast: oatmeal with berries and yogurt and two eggs
  • Pre-run snack: sports drink
  • Post-run lunch: turkey sandwich on whole grain bread, apple with nut butter 
  • Dinner: tofu and vegetable stir fry with oranges and brown rice
  • Night snack: small protein shake

Sample Day 2: Morning Swim + Evening 90-Minute Interval Ride

  • Pre-swim snack: half bagel with nut butter and coffee 
  • During swim: drink mix, roughly 30grams carbohydrate
  • Post-swim breakfast: smoothie with protein powder
  • Lunch: bean burrito bowl with salsa and guacamole
  • Pre-ride snack: granola bar
  • During ride: hydration and two gels
  • Post-ride dinner: grilled chicken salad with baked potato
  • Night snack: small protein shake

Sample Day 3: 2-hour Ride + 30-Minute Run Brick Workout

  • Breakfast: oatmeal with maple syrup, nut butter, banana plus coffee 
  • During brick: hydration with fuel of roughly 120 grams of carbohydrate throughout effort
  • Post-brick: fruit smoothie with protein powder
  • Lunch: chickpea, vegetable, quinoa and feta salad with oil/vinaigrette dressing 
  • Post-ride dinner: flank steak fajitas with corn and avocado
  • Night snack: popcorn with nutritional yeast

Remember that how much you eat depends on the duration of your training, your body weight, your body composition goals, your performance goals and many other considerations. To get a more dialed in and individualized plan, work with a sports dietitian.

READ THIS NEXT: A 3-Day Meal Plan for Runners

 

About the Author

Lori

Lori Russell

Lori Russell is a self-taught personal chef and qualified board-certified sports dietitian-nutritionist. She holds a master’s degree in human nutrition and has racked up over 11 years professional experience in the dynamic field of wellness, including recipe demonstrator, corporate wellness coach, public speaker, digital media producer, personal nutrition advisor and freelance writer. As an elite road cyclist and marathon runner who was diagnosed with celiac disease, Russell understands first hand that eating a whole food, nutritious diet can greatly affect one’s performance, mood, health and overall increase quality of life. Through her brand ‘Hungry for Results@HungryForResults, she provides a fun and authentic approach to food, nutrition, fitness and lifestyle counseling.
Lori Russell is a self-taught personal chef and qualified board-certified sports dietitian-nutritionist. She holds a master’s degree in human nutrition and has racked up over 11 years professional experience in the dynamic field of wellness, including recipe demonstrator, corporate wellness coach, public speaker, digital media producer, personal nutrition advisor and freelance writer. As an elite road cyclist and marathon runner who was diagnosed with celiac disease, Russell understands first hand that eating a whole food, nutritious diet can greatly affect one’s performance, mood, health and overall increase quality of life. Through her brand ‘Hungry for Results@HungryForResults, she provides a fun and authentic approach to food, nutrition, fitness and lifestyle counseling.

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