As your cycling journey progresse I find the food issue takes care of itself, you will find yourself avoiding certain foods the night as they will effect performance next day, for me it includes high fat foods. Before ride I still swear by a banana and plain old pancakes. I use gels and perpetuem on ride, I've tried homemade drinks but never made any difference. After ride I have recently been using recovorite and I find as long as I drink it I'm not so hungry and my food intake is not so high., if I have no access to that chocolate milk works good too. You really should eat within an hour of ride a good combination of carbs and protien I love eggs sandwhich for this but you will find what works for you.