The 7 best snacks to help you power-up on the golf course

Fueling your body on the golf course is essential to playing your best golf. In order to perform your best, you will want to eat something every 2-3 holes and drink a lot of water. The ultimate goal is to keep your blood sugar as even-keeled as possible by continuing to eat and drink throughout your round. The spikes and drops that come with sugar are what can cause mood, energy, and scoring issues. Here are some of my favorite ways to fuel on the course:

1. Energy Bars

Healthy energy bars are easier than ever to find these days. They are the best ones to pick because they tend to have the least amount of bad ingredients in them. These types of bars are simply made from real food, and not lots of sugar.

My favorites: GoMacro Bars, Beachbars, RXBAR.

2. Protein Balls or muffins

The season favors the prepared as they say, so make your food at home if possible! Homemade protein balls or muffins are one of my favorite things to bring to the course. You know exactly what is in them and feel good about what you are putting into your body. Here are two of my favorite recipes.

3. Shakeology

Having a shake towards the beginning of your round can be beneficial in keeping your energy even throughout your play. Shakeology is my go-to for this. They have plant based options as well as whey options and pack the highest amounts of superfoods into one little shake. They also don’t have that chalky taste/texture that many shakes have. You can make a shake before heading to the course or throw a pack in your bag to have mid-round.

4. Nuts/trail mix

If you are going for this option, be sure to leave out the M&M version and opt for a homemade or healthier version. Too much sugar can lead to spikes and crashes in energy, which can hurt your score! Trader Joes has some great options in to-go sized bags that are healthy and perfect to throw in your golf bag.

5. Beef Jerky

Beef Jerky has been a long-time golf course favorite. As with everything else, you will want to make sure you are picking a brand that doesn’t have a large number of additive ingredients in it. Selecting something that is low-sodium and low-sugar is going to be your best option, like Brooklyn Biltong or Think Jerky.

6. PB+J (cut into quarters)

This is my all-time favorite but you have to be careful with the types of peanut butter you are using. Many peanut butters are packed with bad ingredients and added sugars. There are only 2 ingredients your peanut butter should have: peanuts and salt. The other thing to look for is bread without added sugar.  The best thing you can do is cut these sandwiches into quarters and try to eat one quarter every 2-3 holes to maintain blood sugar and stay energized.

7. Veggies and Hummus

If you are able to pack this, it is a great option. I opt for carrots, cucumbers, and peppers along with some flavored hummus. This is packed with protein and goodness to keep you playing your best!

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