Diet

Just wanted to pick people's brains really.
I want to start training for a long distance ride soon. Trouble is I have quite bad problems with my energy levels at the minute due to long-term illness which I basically just have to live with. It's highly frustrating. I eat fairly healthy (veggie, no milk, no artificial shit, lots of wholegrains) and I did Biology so I'm fairly aware of my food groups so please no patronising shit...
I'm not looking for professional opinion. Just wondering what people eat/how often/do you eat when you ride or is this bad?
Thanks.

Days when I ride all day couriering I eat eggs for breakfast and have a protein shake later on. No advanced science to it, it's almost certainly psychosomatic but it works for me.
I don't drink or drug, for me it makes enough difference on it's own, I'd be a mess if I was even slightly strung out after a big night, so I guess that's as important as the fuel, the self-sabotage.
Other than that, no simple sugars and little meals often and I'm good to ride all day.
No idea what others do, don't think I'm right, just right for me.

hmmm, yeah I know we're all different. Some more than others! I think I need more protein for sure. Not drinking has definitely helped too.

You feel like a massive fitness dork buying it but get a tub from Holland & Barratt

there's a book on sports nutrition by Anita Bean - well worth a read and as you know your basics shouldn't be too heavy going.

Edit

Complete Guide to Sports Nutrition

Porrdige (fruits, nuts, cacao powder)/juice/green tea - Breakfast is definately a place to take care, porridge is the best base and jazz it up with fruits and nuts, honey and cacao powder. Green tea, and some of the other teas are a way of getting a hot drink (which seems to help), which does you some good, improve fluids etc.
Quinoa would be another one, as a base for meals it's pretty excellent, instead of pasta, rice, bread etc. Can have it in salads as well, and it tastes nice unlike Amarinthe which is kinda horrid, but apparently better for you than Quinoa.

I think the addage of 3 square meals a day, depends on whether you're sat at a desk or doing physical stuff, I tend to eat at the start and end of the day (when I have money, not stressing over work/essays etc). Preperation is key, and eating decent stuff is cheaper and makes you feel better. thats my 2p's worth!

to answer your question - yes to eating while riding, especially on long distance. preload with good meals and plenty carbs, then have regular snacks. banana, flapjack, malt loaf all good but you'll quickly find what works for you. don't wait until you're hungry to eat, start munching after first hour or so then keep it regular.

energy drinks plus electrolyte worth looking into too, plus ensure well hydrated before you start. looking for clear pee day before.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1271520/Surprise-superfoods-Forget-blueberries-Dieticians-say-popcorn-pork-scratchings-bursting-nutrients--GOOD-you.html

I think there's a lot of money to be wasted on healthy living stuff, do some reading (theres lots of studies), try some out and find what works for you. I know my housemate, since going veggie has taken on some more vitamin supplements and upped his level of protein shakes.

I wouldn't trust ANYTHING the Daily Mail rag has to say! Didn't they print a story that cycling gives you cancer or some shit last month?!

^ this.

haha probably. That article gave me so many lols it was untrue.

Work mates son is at the Wolves academy. Yes...i know its the dreaded football, but you would be suprised at the diet...kept me going on a 50 mile mtb ride last year...i shall dig it out..veggie cool as well.

judging by the size of some of the Wolves players, I dread to think what they've got them eating!!

shh!!

no football...but behold the power of jaffa cakes on long rides...

scrambled eggs on toast for brekky , or beans on toast..best brekky ever..

Fuck newspapers, no nutritional value at all

+1 for porridge, I mix mine with flaked almonds and the small fruit derived from grapes that gets me neg-repped whenever I mention them

yuech...

crunchy nut cornflakes...makes me late...

haha. Cheers guys, I was just curious to other people's feeding habits.

@ Tenderloin - Some days I have four or five meals, some days only two really far apart. Very bad I know. I have no routine because of my job, sometimes start at 07:30, sometimes finish at midnight (just finished) so then my meals get fucked around. There's only one manager on call throughout the centre so there's no-one to cover my break so I can sit down and time taking meds/eating properly...I end up carrying random halves of sandwhiches/fruit round with me while I'm doing stuff (heavy lifting, etc). Usually can just about muster the energy to ride home (it is a big hill). Hopefully, at the beginning of my trip I can get into a good routine sharpish.

the small fruit derived from grapes that gets me neg-repped whenever I mention them

I fucking hate mummified grapes.

I just googled dried grapes...face palm death

Tired.

complex carb loading before trip = win.

There's only one manager on call throughout the centre so there's no-one to cover my break so I can sit down and time taking meds/eating properly...I end up carrying random halves of sandwhiches/fruit round with me while I'm doing stuff (heavy lifting, etc).

aren't there laws against that? employer has to make reasonable allowances for breaks etc?

Longest ride in one day for me was 140 miles, I ate a bunch of energy gel and OJ (I hate OJ) for breakfast and was almost tripping on sugar then kept going with bananas and flapjacks. That was last year though when I still ate sugar food. This year I'll be trying other stuff out, first long ride is quite soon so I'll know better then.

Yep, the Working Time Directive gets broken ALL the time in my place. Short-staffed, tight budget, no-one else is upto the job, yadda yadda yadda. I had problems before this job and when I've had a month off too. This clearly just exacerbates the situ. Ideally, not for much longer...

Maybe backwards of me but I'm so suspicious of gels, powders, fake stuff?

energy gels etc a quick hit, emergency only.

pasta the night before a ride..win