Thanks for all the advice - everything from "I don't eat anything" to "I always carry a t-bone and potato."
In the meantime I found that Clif makes mini bars at 100 calories each instead of the regular 230 calories. My wife picked up a box at Target and one every hour seems to suit me on short rides.
But as far as peppermint balls being bad for teeth, at least they will dissolve completely. Clif bars are bad for sticking to teeth. I carry sugarless gum to help after every bar.