A runner's (or power-walker's) nutritional needs are different from more sedentary folks. For starters, you need a lot more protein and carbs for energy.

This month's issue of Runners World Magazine provides an article that outlines the 15 foods runners need every week for good health and top performance.

I was happy to find that I eat 80 percent of these on a regular basis.

How does your diet stack up? Are you giving your body the fuel it needs to lead an active life?

Here are the top 15 foods, according to "The Best Grocery List of All Time" author Liz Applegate:

1. Almonds
2. Eggs
3. Sweet Potatoes
4. Whole Grain Cereal with Protein
5. Oranges
6. Canned Black Beans
7. Mixed Salad Greens
8. Salmon
9. Whole-Grain Bread
10. Frozen Stir-Fry Vegetables
11. Whole-Grain Pasta
12. Chicken
13. Frozen Mixed Berries
14. Dark Chocolate
15. Low-Fat Yogurt

The article goes in-depth into why a runner needs these specific foods, tells you how to add them to your diet and even gives you some great recipes. Read all about it here:
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-242-301--10200-0,00.html