Raving is hard work. You don’t need to be a veteran to know that if you are going got be running around for hours for a two or three-day festival, you need to make sure you are giving your body the fuel it needs to keep going.

First things first, if you aren’t eating before raving, then YOU NEED TO CHANGE THAT. When you don’t give your body fuel to keep going, it is going to start digging into your reserves, which is why you’ll feel like crap the next day. So if you don’t want to feel like a mess, you need to eat!

Ok, now that we have that covered, let's talk about what you should be eating.

As someone who prides themselves on being super healthy and eating well, I had a rude awakening when my pre-rave meal (a salad) left me feeling like death the next day. It is often easy to underestimate the sheer amount of exercise you will be doing even inactively (sweating, standing, etc.). Years of habits and school health classes had basically left me thinking that before large amounts of exercise the worst thing I could do would be to eat a burger and fries and wash it down with a coke, but I am here to tell you that there are few things better than just that before you go dance the night away.

Now I'm not saying that burgers are the best rave fuel in existence (They kind of are…), there are a lot of fantastic options, but they are the perfect example of all of the elements you should be thinking about before you head out.

1. PROTEIN

   Protein is super important. When you are dancing, walking, waiting in line for a drink, or whatever you like to do at festivals you are going to be using your muscles. If you are wearing heels or platforms or shuffling, you will probably be using muscles you don’t often use, and they are going to need fuel.

   Protein also acts to promote muscles recovery and prevent muscle damage while also helping with muscle synthesis. Basically, it is a one-stop shop for helping you stay strong during a long dance session.

   This is why protein is going to be essential. If you are vegan or vegetarian, make sure that you include a large amount of protein in your pre-rave meal.

2. FAT

   Yeah, it may sound insane to say you should be eating fat before you head out. Fat, as afraid of it as we all are, actually helps fuel your body for longer workout sessions (which is exactly what raving is).

   Now I don’t mean you should eat a giant block of cheese, but throwing in a slice or two or eating something with some healthy fat like yogurt or guac is going to help you stay full and happy all night long while also helping your body soften the blow.

   Which…is why I once again return to the burger as the perfect rave fuel. It's protein and a good source of fat in one easy to eat package. Convinced yet?

3. CARBS

   Carbs! Carbs are an essential part of any pre-rave meal. They help fuel your body during exercise and are filling enough to keep you from wanting to blow fifteen dollars on a crappy slice of pizza once inside the venue.

Another reason you can’t get better than a burger is that you also get vegetables! Yeah, maybe not as much as you might get with a salad, but a little bit of lettuce does go a long way. All jokes aside, you need to make sure that you are eating and if you are eating it needs to be a meal that is giving you the protein, fat, and carbs that your body needs.

If you don’t like meat, then make sure you are getting your protein from another source. I know it seems counterintuitive to fill yourself up on carbs and fats before you get there, but when you factor in driving to the venue, waiting in line, and going through security, you should already have started disgesting your food by the time you get inside.

Long story short, raving is a lot of work. You need to make sure that you give your body what it needs beforehand and not just after if you want to recover well the next day. I know it can be hard to force yourself to eat a filling meal especially if you are like me and lose your appetite when you are excited. No matter what you end up deciding to eat please make sure that it has enough protein, carbs, and healthy fats to keep you going.