Marathon week vegetarian marathon meal plan - Saturday
Discover exactly what to eat the day before a marathon with our meal plan for vegetarian runners. The key for Saturday is plenty of easily digestible carbs
Contrary to what you may have heard, the week before the marathon isn’t all about piling on the pasta. In fact, to maximise carbohydrate (fuel) stores before the race, runners only need to start 'carb-loading' two or three days before the race (three days if you prefer a slower increase in your daily intake). Read more in our guide to carb-loading.
With an increase in the number of runners following a vegetarian diet, we've put together a plan for a week's worth of meals leading up to the marathon. A well-structured vegetarian diet should deliver the main macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein and fat) required during training, but vegetarians should also make sure they are getting enough iron and B12 (both important for energy production).
While these recipes provide a good framework, there will also be times where an extra serving of higher-protein foods (such as dairy, pulses, grains, nuts and seeds) can be added to meals to increase the overall daily intake.
Earlier in the week, it may be useful to start including snacks to train the gut in preparation for increased carbohydrate intake in the days leading up to the race.
As a general rule, what you eat should be different depending on the training demands for that day (or when you are preparing for the race itself) to promote sufficient fuelling and recovery. Discover what to eat on different training days with our training meal plans for runners.
Check out the London Marathon's training and meal plans. Don't have a spot to run this year? You can still take part with the virtual event London Marathon MyWay – join up for your chance to run 26.2 miles on marathon day (21 April 2024).
This is day six of our week-long vegetarian marathon meal plan. Below, you'll find suggestions what to eat and how much training you should do. For a full 16-week plan, have a look at the London Marathon's training programme.
Saturday training:
Gentle stretching
Saturday nutrition:
It's the day before the big race. While carbohydrates are still the priority to fuel for the race ahead, it's important to stick to the foods you know – now is not the time to start experimenting with extra spice or fatty dishes, which may cause a stomach upset.
Often the biggest mistake is trying to eat too much the day before and feeling uncomfortable on the morning of the race – stick to your normal routine here (only have a dessert or an evening snack if you usually have one), so you're up and ready to eat breakfast before the race.
Breakfast
American-style blueberry pancakes
Light, fluffy and fruity, these pancakes are an American classic. Serve them stacked high with extra fruit and a drizzle of honey or maple syrup.
Morning snack
Apricot, honey & pistachio flapjacks
These tasty treats will keep you in the kitchen for just five minutes and offer an easy snack to grab on-the-go.
Lunch
Rice & bean enchiladas
Filling and great value for money, try these Mexican-inspired vegetarian wraps for a speedy and spicy supper.
Afternoon snack
Crunchy peanut butter & banana pots
Try a winning combo of peanut butter and banana for breakfast with these healthy vegan breakfast pots, made with porridge oats, soya yogurt and cinnamon.
Dinner
Butternut squash & sage risotto
An easy, creamy risotto that's full of flavour.
Dessert/evening snack (optional)
Brilliant banana loaf
Perfect for using up overripe bananas, this is a seriously moreish treat. As mentioned, only eat a dessert or evening snack if you usually do in order to feel comfortable on race day tomorrow.
Go back to the week-long vegetarian marathon meal plan.
Not vegetarian? Try our basic, vegan and gluten-free marathon meal plans.
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Not vegetarian? Try our basic, vegan and gluten-free marathon meal plans.
Find more expert advice and answers to your training questions in our marathon hub.
James Collins is recognised as a leading Performance Nutritionist through his work with Olympic and professional sport. Over the last decade he has worked with Arsenal FC, the England and France national football teams and Team GB. He has a private practice in Harley Street where he sees business executives, performing artists and clients from all walks of life. He is the author of the new book The Energy Plan, which focuses on the key principles of fuelling for fitness.
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