By Michelle Kruse
I’m LOVING this advice and want to share it with all of you. First – know that I am a total cheapskate. I do not have the best gear, coolest running clothes or triathlon suit. Sure, I’d love to have the latest and greatest, but I can’t stand to part with my money for something I don’t NEED. I haven’t always been this way, but my husband has rubbed off on me over the last nine years.
So, when discussing Ironman and marathon nutrition with Sally Brown, MS, RD of Body Fuel, I was delighted to hear that I could replace my $2 a pop Cliff Bars with plain old peanut butter sandwiches. Brown said that although Cliff Bars also provide great nutrition, a good old PB&J will give me just what I need. She said to use my regular whole grain bread, natural peanut butter and a banana or jelly. (I love peanut butter banana, but if you’re going for a LONG workout, the banana can get kind of hot and gross in your pocket, so go with jelly instead.)
I am proud to say my PB&J sandwiches got me through Ironman 70.3 and I felt great the entire time. Combined with Cytomax or First Endurance electrolyte, my PB&J’s are perfect endurance fuel. My training friends all got a kick out of my smooshed sandwiches, but no one can argue the cost-effectiveness. On this weekend’s group bike ride (I bowed out after 50 miles, the rest of the group did 90 – I was on a tight schedule that day), I was so excited to see some converts.
My thriftiness is catching on!
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i am allergic to peanuts so i can only taste a bit of peanut butter even if i love it so much.”‘”