WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports Fit Club: Power foods to fuel your workout

There are a variety of foods available that will not only help you achieve your weight loss goals, but will also supply the power that is needed to get through the day.

The foods are known as power foods.

In this week's Fit Club Lynda Figueredo explains why should people incorporate power foods into their every day diet.

Feeding your body with super foods can give you the fuel you need to make you a better athlete and go the extra mile. To find ideas on good sources of energy enhancing foods, we went to Thrive Cafe on Highway 80 in Savannah.

"We offer an 11 super food salad. This is one of our best dishes," said Owner and Chef Wendy Armstrong. "We have a lot of customers who are trying to be more fit or lose weight, their training for the marathon or simply trying to have a better diet. We created this dish for them."

 The dish starts out with a base of three grains - brown rice, farro and quinoa, some of the most healthy fuels for your workout.

Not only do these grains serve as a carbohydrate, they also are a complete protein.

"These whole grains are going to give you sustained strength for a longer period of time," said Armstrong. "If you are eating a processed starch, like plain white pasta that converts to sugar in the blood stream giving you a quick spurt energy and then you crash."

The salad combines a variety of other super foods including blueberries, carrots, walnuts, chia seeds, green onions, acai berries and sauteed kale.

"Kale is in the broccoli and cabbage family. It is filled with antioxidants," said Armstrong.

Another way to boost your performance is with a natural power drink, known as coconut water.

"Coconut water is pure source of hydration," said Armstrong. "It has more potassium than your sports drinks but less sugar and sodium."

By eating the right power foods before and after you exercise, you'll give yourself the energy your body needs to keep going and curb your appetite.

Thrive's Signature Eleven Superfood Salad

Combine the following ingredients to makes 12 tasty servings:

Ingredients:

•  4 cups equal amounts of cooked farro, brown rice, & quinoa
•  2 cups kale, sautéed in olive oil
•  ¼ cup chopped walnuts
•  ¼ cup shredded carrots
•  ¼ cup corn
•  ¼ cup dried cranberries
•  2 tbsp dried blueberries
•  2 tbsp dried goji berries
•  1 tbsp chia seeds
•  2 tbsp chopped scallions
•  ¾ cups fresh spinach
•  Dressing: 1 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette, ½ tbsp acai juice, ¼ cup olive oil.

For optimal health benefits use as many local and organic ingredients as possible.

For information on Thrive Cafe visit http://www.thriveacarryoutcafe.com.

Copyright 2011 WTOC. All rights reserved.