Check Your Sports Nutrition Product Use By Dates

Sports NutritionRacing NutritionTraining Nutrition

5 Mar

As cyclists, athletes and fitness enthusiasts, we focus a lot on our training regimens and often invest in a varied collection of sports nutrition products. However, do we always keep track of when these products expire?

Recently, I embarked on a daunting task that had been on my list for at least half a year - a complete inventory check of my sports nutrition cupboard.

Spoiler alert: it was a wake-up call.

Don’t let your Sports Nutrition Products Expire: Lessons from My Personal Inventory Check

All these sports nutrition products were expired

The Long Overdue Sports Nutrition Inventory Check

The idea for this overdue task struck me during a conversation with Svein Tuft (Podcast Episode 71) about an unused gel he took on tour across the countryside for multiple races.

I realised that many of us, myself included, probably have a stash of sports nutrition items that may be well past their prime.

I put the thought aside to sort out ‘one day’ until I had my own unfortunate run-in with an expired gel, which propelled me into action.

An Uncomfortable Sports Nutrition Mistake

It was a humbling moment last weekend when I realised I had consumed two gels that expired two years ago during a climb.

The immediate after-effect was an unpleasant bloated feeling that took over my dinner and evening. Discovering the gel's expiration date was sobering, and it reminded me of the importance of using these products in a timely manner, instead of just stockpiling them.

Spring Cleaning the Sports Nutrition Cupboard

Determined not to make the same mistake twice, I finally began the arduous task of sorting through my collection. The plan was simple: identify expired items and get organised.

This process unveiled a troubling truth - a significant portion of my collection was expired.

It was both an embarrassing realisation and an invaluable lesson.

Lessons Learned

Here’s what my sports nutrition sorting spree taught me:

1. Check Frequently:

Conducting regular checks on our inventory is crucial. Implementing a monthly or quarterly review system can keep us updated on what needs to be consumed soon.

2. Mindful Purchasing:

It's vital to purchase only what you will realistically consume before the product goes bad. It also helps to check the expiry date BEFORE you buy.

3. Use It or Lose It:

Always make it a habit to incorporate these products into your training sessions instead of saving them for an arbitrary "emergency” and never using them.

4. Organising for Efficiency:

By keeping products sorted by category and checking expiration dates, you’re less likely to waste money and effort on products that end up in the trash.

The Final Tally: How much sports nutrition was in date?

After an all-consuming check, the results were unsettling.

Roughly 90% of the products in my sports nutrition cupboard were expired.

That translated to a couple hundred dollars’ worth of sports nutrition items rendered useless.

A Call to Action

I urge you to learn from my experience.

Take this as a reminder to not only invest in the right nutrition products but also check their best before dates so that you get the maximum benefit in your training. Routinely going through your collection and being attentive to expiration dates is the only way to ensure you’re not throwing money and resources down the drain.

Remember, being an athlete isn't just about dedication on the field or in the gym – it also involves a conscious effort to manage the resources that fuel us. Check your cupboards, organise, and make sure your purchase adds value to your training routine.

By staying on top of your nutritional inventory, not only do you ensure the effective use of your purchases, but you also align more closely with your athletic goals without unnecessary hurdles.

Check those dates, fuel your ride, and be smarter with your sports nutrition.