I am tired of all my Cliff Bars, Lara Bars, etc. I am looking for recipes for bars or balls. Does anybody make their own?

I sometimes make PB&J to carry with me. I smash it down as flat as I can then cut it into quarters. Wrap each quarter individually in foil. They are easy to unwrap and eat while riding. Plus, they are compact and provide great riding fuel.

There are many recipes online for DIY sports drinks and nutrition bars, you can google these. Don't forget you can always carry real food of all kinds like sandwiches, pastries, nuts, Pop Tarts, bagels, cookies, potato chips, etc.

Dried apricots and salted almonds work great, if you don't mind they're inexpensive and lack flashy packages.

Dried fruit is a great source of QUICK energy.

Take a Medjool date, cut it open, remove pit, using fingers make halves into a scoop, fill one half with peanut butter the other half with some chocolate chips, raisins, chopped nuts....whatever, put halves together, wrap in foil. Very naturally sweet, stay VERY moist, instant energy from the date, protein from PB and the chewing satisfies the needed action for many people where sucking down a gel just doesn't do it.

I make granola bars (crunchy and chewy)

Also things like rice cakes directly from the Portables cookbook. Any some things "inspired by" the Portables cookbook (Coconut Rice Balls with Chocolate and Sea Salt).

I got all my recipes via google and the cookbook I purchased.

Granola bar #1 is Ina Garten's from the FoodNetwork. Sorry I can't google & link, I'm on a cell phone and all I'm getting is the mobile site.

Granola bar #2 is Mark Bitmans Chewy Granola Bar recipe. I've never had anyone that didn't comment that these were anything less than fabulous. They are also highly caloric, around 350 cal each the way I make them. I take them on epic rides where I'll really need the calories. The granola I use is homemade, also a Mark Bittman recipe.

I cut and individually wrap all this stuff and pull it out of the freezer as needed.

+1 on the Feed Zone Portables

Top Off Your Tank with Bite-Sized Power: Try Chocolate & Sea Salt Sticky Bites | The Feed Zone

Any recipes for fuel that aren't loaded with sugars and simple carbs? I have Type II DM and need to avoid high glycemic stuff but still need fuel for extended exercise. This question has been vexing me for some time.

nut butter on whole grain bread?

I make muesli bars with oatmeal, a mix of seeds, dried cranberries and raisins with nut butter and raw honey. Though I'm having a hard time getting them to not fall apart without using too much honey.

Lori responds: nut butter on whole grain bread?

I make muesli bars with oatmeal, a mix of seeds, dried cranberries and raisins with nut butter and raw honey. Though I'm having a hard time getting them to not fall apart without using too much honey.

Good suggestions. I'm a hog for almond butter, and whole grain bread is a possibility. I need to do more razvedka on dried fruit -- I'm crackers for that stuff (particularly dried cherries) but I need to check up on the glycemic index and determine amounts accordingly.

One of the things about DM that really grasses me is having to think about every freaking thing I eat before I even put it in my mouth. 8^#

Rowan and I use granola bars. Our grocery store has a large selection ... shelves full of various kinds ... and there are certain ones we really like.

They are a whole lot more tasty and less expensive than energy bars.


We have also used oatmeal raisin or oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I made some a few times, but otherwise they can be purchased in the bakery section of the grocery store.


Salted almonds and dried apricots are great because you'll get all your electrolytes in with calories.


Some people swear by fig newtons.

Oatmeal cookies. Simple and delicious.