You know the feeling. You’re at a restaurant with a menu the size of a novel, your stomach’s rumbling, and the waiter is on their way. Panic sets in. Do you play it safe? Go adventurous? You scan and re-scan, but the more you look, the fuzzier things get. Suddenly, dinner becomes a small existential crisis.
That’s choice paralysis - and it’s happening just as often in the sports nutrition aisle.
Marathon fuel, long bike ride snacks, a healthy bite post-run - whatever you’re after, it’s easy to get lost in a sea of running gels, energy balls, food pouches, bars, and vitamins all promising to fuel, power, recharge, or recover you in record time. Every brand shouts something different: Low fat! Extra protein! Scientifically formulated! Keto-friendly!
So how do you know what to trust? And more importantly - what actually works for your body?
Welcome to Claim Chaos
When every product is positioned as “the best,” the decision becomes even harder. One gel promises rapid absorption. Another swears by electrolytes. That bar’s high fibre - but what does that even mean when the ingredient list runs 25 lines long?
It’s no wonder athletes feel overwhelmed. And the truth is, much of what’s out there is highly processed, packed with additives or artificial sweeteners that might spike your energy but leave your gut - or your teeth - feeling pretty sorry.
Trusting Your Body Over Marketing Buzzwords
At Yanaa, we believe athletes are smart - and that if we strip things back and listen to our bodies, we can often tell what we truly need. Craving something salty after a long run? That’s your body asking for sodium. Something sweet but grounding? That doesn’t necessarily mean sugar - it might mean something naturally sweet, like beetroot or sweet potato.
This idea isn’t new. It’s ancient.
Traditional diets from endurance cultures around the world - the Māori’s kūmara (sweet potato), the Rarámuri runner’s pinole, or Japanese natto - have long nourished the body using real ingredients, carefully prepared. Even Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has guided nutritional principles for thousands of years, places value on naturally sweet foods like legumes and root veg to support the digestive system - a key part of long-term energy and performance.
These ingredients may not come in flashy packaging, but they’ve stood the test of time.
How to Decode a Label (Without a Nutrition Degree)
Modern sports nutrition can be tricky to navigate. So here are a few ways to make smarter choices next time you’re scanning shelves:
- Check the ingredients list first
Ingredients are listed by weight, from highest to lowest. If the top few include sugar, glucose syrup, or something you can’t pronounce, it’s worth reconsidering. Look for whole foods near the top - oats, nuts, pulses, root veg. - Don’t be fooled by buzzwords
“High fibre” can still mean high sugar or salt.
“Low fat” often adds sugar to compensate for taste.
“No added sugar” may still include artificial sweeteners.
“Natural” isn’t regulated - it doesn’t mean unprocessed or healthy. - Understand RIs (Reference Intakes)
These show the daily recommended max for calories, fat, salt, and sugar - based on an average adult. You might need more or less, depending on your training, metabolism, or goals. - Spot hidden sugars and additives
Sugar can go by many names - maltodextrin, cane juice, corn syrup, dextrose, etc.
Artificial sweeteners (like aspartame or acesulfame K) might reduce calories, but they can increase cravings and disrupt gut health over time.
Real Food = Real Performance
A growing number of athletes - from pros to weekend runners - are choosing simpler, more whole food-based nutrition. Why? Because it digests better. You get not just energy, but fibre, antioxidants, and micronutrients that support your gut, immune system, and recovery.
At Yanaa, we took inspiration from traditional endurance foods and gave them a modern twist - savoury food pouches made from real vegetables, pulses, and herbs like pea & mint or beetroot & balsamic. They’re easy to digest, naturally rich in fibre, and free from added sugars, sweeteners, or preservatives.
And most importantly - they’re genuinely joyful to eat.
Because you don’t need to eat like an astronaut to fuel like an athlete.
Final Thoughts
Choice paralysis in sports nutrition is real - but you don’t need a PhD to make a good decision. Trust your instincts. Listen to your cravings. Read the back of the pack.
And remember - the simpler option, the one that’s recognisable, digestible, and delicious, is often the best one.
Real food has been fuelling human movement for thousands of years.
Maybe it’s time we let it again.
