Protein Pies to Fuel Athletes
It’s the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham kicking off on 28th July. Team England will compete against the 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth across 19 different sports, from triathlon to table tennis, this year 🏃🏻🏓
Now, it’s no secret that athletes have to eat a strict diet to fuel themselves for events. Here’s a brief (and entirely serious) guide on which pies to eat before/after exercising, or whilst watching the Commonwealth Games on the telly, and which pies will win you all of the medals 😋
Carb loading 🥔
For those partaking in gruelling or long-distance events, then carb-loading beforehand is an absolute must. Studies have shown that carbs can increase glycogen stores and utilisation while boosting carb oxidation during exercise. Carb loading, which involves consuming a high-carb diet for the days in the lead up to an event, is a well-known method to maximize these glycogen stores.
Therefore we’d highly recommend a delicious Homity pie (18.5g carbs per 100g) full of cheesy potato and the Steak Pasty doesn't stack up too badly - if in doubt, always eat a steak pasty (26g carbs per 100g)!
Another carb-ful option is the Chunki Roast Veg Pasty, (25.6g carbs per 100g) with potato, butternut squash and sweet potato wrapped in tasty wholemeal pastry. Wholemeal pastry coincidentally, has more iron, calcium & protein than normal pastry so a great option for sporty types! Add extra mash or chunky wedges to ensure you’re increasing your muscle glycogen stores for maximal energy and there’s no question you’ll get to the finish line (even if that’s simply to the fridge for a refreshing beverage!).
Protein Pies 💪
A high protein intake can offer numerous benefits, including helping you lose weight, gain muscle, and improve your body composition and metabolic health. We won’t bore you with a list of all the benefits of protein, though. For the gym bunnies and sprinters among us, there are plenty of protein-rich pies for ultimate muscle building and recovery! Of course, there are the classics such as Ultimate Steak Pie (with 10.4g protein per 100g) and Chicken and Mushroom pies (9.4g of protein per 100g) which are packed full of great quality lean meat.
But the medal for the ultimate protein-packed treat has to go to the Squealer Pork Pie with 11g of protein per 100g 🥇
Low(ish) fat
Anything with processed fat slows you down (not ideal if you’re competing in a race!). We use natural ingredients, always opting for butter instead of margarine, and simple processes in the kitchen to make all our pies so they’re not going to make you sluggish.
Spectator fuel
Now if you’re intending to just put your feet up and watch the Commonwealth Games on the box, then we’d recommend you just choose your all-time favourite pie, load up your plate with sides and enjoy.