2 min readBetween jobs, family responsibilities, a social life, and a packed training schedule, you probably don’t have much downtime. That lack of time might mean the difference between hitting the drive-through and making a healthy and delicious home-cooked meal.
Previous research has suggested that making food at home is not only better for your wallet, but better for you nutritionally as well. One study found that those who ate out less had a more balanced diet than those who ate out more—and they spent less money on food. Another study found that those who ate at home six or seven days a week consumed fewer calories overall than those who didn’t eat at home.
So we’re challenging you to make one home-cooked meal a day for the next 30 days. To make this 30-day challenge as easy as can be, we’ve curated a month’s worth of recipes designed specifically for runners. They all contain the essential nutrients you need to stay on top of your game, including protein to build and maintain muscle, carbs to keep you going on long, hard runs, and healthy fats to keep your heart strong. Plus, most of them won’t take a ton of time away from your busy day.
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The recipes you see below are geared towards a healthy dinner (yes, breakfast for dinner is a thing). But feel free to work them into your schedule as you see fit. Find a few you love? You can stick with a handful and rotate for 30 days or try a new one each night. The best part: The leftovers make for a great (and healthy) lunch the next day.
30-Day Homemade Meals Challenge
Danielle Zickl is a freelance writer who has 10 years of experience covering fitness, health, and nutrition. She's a graduate of Ithaca College. You can find her work here on Women's Health, and in many other publications including PS, SELF, Well+Good, Runner’s World, Outside RUN, Peloton, Men’s Fitness, and more.
