RUNNING SNACKS ARE PRICEY-SO I FOUND CHEAPER OPTIONS THAT ARE JUST AS GOOD

SINCE STARTING MY first marathon training last summer, I've been making sure I eat enough, especially before runs.

- 

PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS HENGGE

There are plenty of fantastic sports nutrition options. Many of these products—I'm sure you've gotten Instagram ads—promise sustained energy from natural sources. I love munching on the latest snacks marketed to runners, but they're not cheap! And since I run about 70 to 80 miles a week, I go through them quickly. It adds up.

So I've decided to save some cash and stock up on products close enough to the sport-specific options. Think: things you could buy in bulk at Costco or your local grocery chain.

To see if my budget-friendly choices were also nutritionally sound, I called up Amy Stephens, RDN, CSSD, sports dietitian for the New York University track and field team who also works with Empire Elite Track Club.

Stephens says the main things to look for in a prerun snack are a sufficient number of carbohydrates (which your body breaks down into glucose, then uses for energy) and low amounts of fiber and fat (which can slow digestion). For many runners, 30 to 50 grams of carbs an hour or two before a run will get the job done.