Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

How long before a workout should you eat? Most adults perform best 2 to 3 hours after a real meal. Here is the research-backed timing guide.

Protein & Nutrition Blog – Marmels

How Long Before a Workout Should You Eat? Timing Guide

by Mo Mandegar, PhD on May 15 2026
Pre-workout meal timing sits between your stomach and yourmuscles, and it is one of the few performance variables youcontrol without changing your training. The research-backeddefault is a balanced meal 2 to 3 hours before training, a smallersnack 1 to 2 hours before, or a fast-digesting carbohydrate with alittle protein 30 to 60 minutes before. Here is what to eat ineach window, and the foods to keep off the plate the closer youget to your warmup.