Training & Nutrition - Pretzels for snacks?

Hi Everyone

I consume pretzels for the carb energy and sodium they provide. I find they keep my system very steady and are easy to digest.

Does anyone else here consume pretzels or pretzel sticks as a snack during a ride?

Is this a common snack choice?

Wondering if there are other "preztel riders" out there...

A little dry, but not a bad choice.

I've heard that a lot of people on here use them, its weird looking at food on a nutritional basis and if its good for you or not. If you were to ask a nutritionist if eating pretzels were ok, they would say no. But then you look at food from an athlete's perspective and everything changes. Now we need those simple carbs for quick energy and all that sodium to restore electrolytes lost on a long sweaty ride. Same thing goes for a low fatty potato chip, lots on simple carbs, lots of potassium, and again some sodium for the electrolytes. I eat really healthy and it seems that everyone tries to knock you down, so anytime that they see me it pretzels or chips, they try and point out all the negatives and then you have to explain to them why these "bad" foods can actually be good for someone who needs it.

Hi Everyone

I consume pretzels for the carb energy and sodium they provide. I find they keep my system very steady and are easy to digest.

Does anyone else here consume pretzels or pretzel sticks as a snack during a ride?

Is this a common snack choice?

Wondering if there are other "preztel riders" out there...

I'm an advocate of the Zone diet, which recommends eating carbs and protein together, and I have a set of carbohydrate and protein combos I find easy and compact to carry for small periodic snacks every 20 miles or so. One favorite is fat free pretzels (Snyder Sourdough Nibblers) with a yogurt drink called Kefir, the fat free version.

FYA, other choices are an apple and some walnuts (good source of omega-3), a mash of Kellogg's Special K and some non-fat yogurt, or a Zone Perfect bar or two. I even bring my own snacks on organized centuries with food stops.

They taste good, are easy to carry in a jersey pocket, and have a bit of salt. What's not to like?

I went through a stage where I tried to ditch all energy food and just eat real food like pretzels on long rides. It worked pretty well even though I've gone back to to trying to utilize more energy foods, but I found that I had to pick my moments with the pretzels. I would sometimes eat some then a hill would come up out of no where and I would choke on the pretzels when I started breathing harder while going up the hill. I agree, they're good, but a little dry and tend to flake and get caught in your throat.

I found fig bars, and lara bars to be easier to consume than pretzels, but still, great choice.

Great to read everyone's feedback on pretzel consumption.

Personally I would carry 2 New York city pretzels and that would be more than sufficient, but can't get them fresh up here.:innocent:

Great to read everyone's feedback on pretzel consumption.

Personally I would carry 2 New York city pretzels and that would be more than sufficient, but can't get them fresh up here.:innocent:

Even better... make them yourself!

http://www.wikihow.com/index.php?title=Make-Soft-Pretzels&printable=yes

Pretzels are a good choice. They are cheap. They are easy to get. They have virtually no fat in them. They have salt which is good for replacing sodium.

Clif Bars has a Pretzel/ Peanut Butter bar that is REALLY tasty!!

Love pretzels, but would not take them on a ride...

Also Trader Joe's has some peanut butter filled pretzels, both salted and non salted variety that are addicting!

If it's salty , I can't so no.

Fill them with peanut butter and I am in heaven.

Pretty good snack, actually. Very filling.

not me

Gluten Free Pretzels are one of my favorite ride snacks :)