Fig Newtons

jnorth51 said:

I have been doing a lot of reading on various posts about suggestions for foods to take along with me on rides (I generally do rides in the 2 hour range, with some in the 304 hour range).

I have read a lot of people mention taking fig newtons with them for the ride. I found this interesting. I used to love fig newtons, and haven't had them in years. Just wondering why they seem to be very popular with cyclists.

304 hours is quite a long ride! I'd suggest eating 12 pounds of pasta, 6 chickens, 10 loaves of bread, 20 gallons of water........😄

On a serious note, figs are really good for you and a fig newton is easy to pack and handle while riding. Nutritionally, figs are very similar to bananas. Check out some facts:
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Look for Paul Newmans - "Fig Newmans". Quite tasty and no trans fat 😄

Sorry - that was meant to be 3 TO 4 hours!! LOL 😄 Thanks for pointing that out though, I had no idea I typed that!

Wow - Fig Newman's hey - i certainly would of noticed them in my supermarket. I guess they aren't in Canada.... 🙁

I love me some fig newtons. Naturally low-fat, very portable and bite-sized, and lots of carbs. "Down south" we have strawberry newtons, too.

jnorth51 said:

Wow - Fig Newman's hey - i certainly would of noticed them in my supermarket. I guess they aren't in Canada.... 🙁

Check in your organic section.

Scotty_Dog said:

304 hours is quite a long ride! I'd suggest eating 12 pounds of pasta, 6 chickens, 10 loaves of bread, 20 gallons of water........😄

And since you are having white meat, a white wine would be ideal, perhaps a sauvignon blanc.....[img]cyclingforums.combiggrin.gifOpen ↗[/img]

Fig newman's - very tasty!

They also are a good change from just eating bars and the chew makes you feel like you ate something.

frenchyge said:

I love me some fig newtons. Naturally low-fat, very portable and bite-sized, and lots of carbs. "Down south" we have strawberry newtons, too.

jnorth51 said:

...Just wondering why they (fig newtons) seem to be very popular with cyclists.

Because they don't taste like Power Bars! I'd rather eat cardboard.

Doctor Morbius said:

Because they don't taste like Power Bars! I'd rather eat cardboard.

LOL - yeah when I see all those "flavors" on powerbars......cherry chocolate chip....ha ha....talk about oxymoronic....more like, cherry chocolate chip = "resin drywall"

jnorth51 said:

Sorry - that was meant to be 3 TO 4 hours!! LOL 😄 Thanks for pointing that out though, I had no idea I typed that!

Wow - Fig Newman's hey - i certainly would of noticed them in my supermarket. I guess they aren't in Canada.... 🙁

Of course they are in Canada. And so are Date Newtons which I prefer. If you can't find them, ask someone in the grocery store.

jnorth51 said:

I have read a lot of people mention taking fig newtons with them for the ride. I found this interesting. I used to love fig newtons, and haven't had them in years. Just wondering why they seem to be very popular with cyclists.

Ah, fig newtons:

portable
carb-packed
taste real
chewy
bite-sized
break down in your mouth fast with a swig of water
fast acting
cheap!!

I have found that that the fig newtons are great as all-around on the bike food beacuse they seem to have the perfect slow release/digestion/absorption/ thing happening.

You all know what I mean .......🙂

I actually like to get the "fat free" labeled ones not because they are 'fat free' (which is of little concern on the bike...) but rather because they don't crumble apart easy like the regular ones
Another eason is they are the official snack food of the PGA Tour (seriously ....)

i love those damn things... they now make them in Whole Wheat 🙂

Just be careful, 2 fig newtons is something like 120 calories. I could eat a damn bag easily which would make you gain probably 2 pounds from calories.

A few on a ride is just fine. I'm very partial to the "Champion Nutrition" snacbars. I've been using CN's products for the past 8 months and they're without a doubt the best i've ever used. And they happen to taste the best too.

Yojimbo_ said:

Of course they are in Canada. And so are Date Newtons which I prefer. If you can't find them, ask someone in the grocery store.

I checked the aisle in the grocery store that sells the Fig Newton's, and I couldn't find any Fig Newman's anyway. I did find the Date Newton's....not sure if i would like those as much as the Fig's, but I guess I will try them soon.

I will check the organic section of the grocery store to see if the Fig NEWMAN'S are there, but I have my doubts... 🙁

NickDavid said:

i love those damn things... they now make them in Whole Wheat 🙂

Just be careful, 2 fig newtons is something like 120 calories. I could eat a damn bag easily which would make you gain probably 2 pounds from calories.

I had no idea they were low fat. I agree, I bring a couple with me to work each day to snack on. I could easily eat the hold bag! However, i was worried about the calories and fat (while just snacking on them) while not riding...

Some people put their fig newtons in a plastic bag with a bit salt substitute (or 'lite' salt, which is a mixture of sodium and potassium chloride), which sticks to the sticky parts. Good to replenish some of the electrolytes.

jnorth51 said:

I checked the aisle in the grocery store that sells the Fig Newton's, and I couldn't find any Fig Newman's anyway. I did find the Date Newton's....not sure if i would like those as much as the Fig's, but I guess I will try them soon.

I will check the organic section of the grocery store to see if the Fig NEWMAN'S are there, but I have my doubts... 🙁

Did you ask somebody?

Yojimbo_ said:

Did you ask somebody?

Yeah, I did. Unfortunately, it was Sunday evening, about 15 mins prior to closing, and the store was closed the next day for the long weekend. Safe to say, the only person to be found was a young guy "working". I asked him about the Fig Newman's and his reply was "wha?". So he took me to the aisle where the Fig Newton's were, and had a quick look and said "I guess not...never heard of them".

I will go back during the day sometime soon.