Do you avoid taking fuel while you are out running because you can’t stomach the taste of gels? There’s another option: try taking real food on the run! For today’s Fartek Friday quick tip I wanted to share some ideas of real food that you can bring with you as fuel on your run.
Real Foods To Bring On The Run
Raisins
This is my favorite food to take on a run! I put them in a small baggies and eat a few at a time whenever I need some fuel.
Banana
I haven’t tried bringing a banana out on a run, but I do eat them right before I go running. I’m thinking maybe if you peeled in and cut it into smaller pieces it would be easier to eat while running.
Dates
Haven’t tried these, but I’d imagine they are similar to raisins.
Fig Bar
I bet these would taste good and would actually be something I look forward to eating on a run!
Larabar
Make sure you pick a flavor that you know doesn’t give you any stomach trouble. Unwrap it and break it into pieces to take with you on the run.
Fruit Pouch
I may have stolen my toddler’s applesauce pouches before to take on a run. There are plenty of flavors available and these are easy to transport and eat while you’re running.
Mashed Sweet Potato
I read somewhere that you can cook up a sweet potato, mash it, and then put it in a sandwich bag. Cut a hole in the corner so you can squeeze the potato out to eat while you are running. I’d love to hear if anyone has tried this one before!
You may also like:
Mid-Run Fueling Ideas That Don’t Involve Gels
Injury Recovery and Nutrition
Pre-Run Snack Ideas For Morning Runners
Have you ever tried taking real food on a run?
I’m linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and Zenaida for Fit Five Friday!
I do like to do a combination of “fuel” I’ve made & Honeystinger chews. Of course, I haven’t needed fuel on the run in years now (last half was 2 years ago, sadly).
The banana would get smooshed. Haven’t tried the sweet potato — I like them, but that doesn’t sound appetizing, gotta admit. I have used the applesauce pouches, but in the end, although it seemed to work, it wasn’t what I wanted on the run.
It can be tough to find what works for you! Convenience and taste are definitely important to consider. I’d like to give chews another try one of these days.
The only gels my tummy agrees with these days are those from SiS. Honey Stinger sometimes works, sometimes not. I love dates! I have not tried them on the run, though. I have been meaning to try the fruit packets…those look like they’d be a perfect solution!
I need to give SiS a try since so many people like them!
I have heard of people doing sweet potato and boiled potatoes but seems kind of messy. I have done raisins before thanks for the ideas
They do seem messy! Not sure if there is a better way to prepare them and bring them on the run.
Many years ago I used to bring dried apricots with me on long runs. I don’t recommend them when it’s really cold though unless you wanna break a tooth. Ha! At my second marathon I ran with a pace group and was amazed with the foods the pacers offered us: Oreos, fig bars, etc. I didn’t dare try anything because you know the rule about not trying anything new on race day.
It’s always interesting to hear about some of the things runners will eat on long runs! I guess its all about finding what works for you!
Love those applesauce pouches! Especially the banana-apple. Also, I use those natural honey sticks; super easy to carry, just bite the end. Only problem I have is it takes some coordination getting the honey out when it’s almost empty. I also really enjoy jelly beans or fruit snacks. Not the most natural, but for me; it’s a little treat for working hard. I don’t usual enjoy sweets so for me, if I’m going to have a sugary snack, why not go all out 😉
Not sure if I’ve heard of natural honey sticks! I think with running fuel its just all about finding what will work for you that you enjoy!
Like Kim, the only gel I have found that works for me are the SIS gels. I do find I do better if I also mix in some real food like Larabars. Bananas have always been a good option pre-run.
I need to give SIS gets a try! But Larabars are a great option too.
When I was marathon training in the summer gels and chews would make me sick so I would take real food! I tried peanut butter pretzels but those were too chewy. I really liked my bag of boiled mashed potatos during a training run and sometimes I used to also take Uncrustables.
I don’t know if I could handle PB pretzels either- one time I ate them before a run and felt kind of gross when I was running. Uncrustables are a great idea!
I really like the applesauce pouches and the single-serve pouches of Justin’s almond butter. I also don’t mind gels, but I haven’t had any for a while.
I love dates and they make a great real food fuel. I’ve even made my own gels with them. I also love potatoes, though I usually have them the night before a long run.
I eat alot of potatoes too, especially before a long run. I haven’t tried eating them while running though. I love the idea of using dates in your own gels!
I used to take fig newtons on long runs. Then I switched to chews until i broke my crown. I do like the applesaucepouches.
I need to give fig newtons a try. Chews seems like alot of work but I know so many runners love them! The few times I’ve tried them I felt like it was alot of effort to actually chew them.
interesting about the sweet potato!!
as a back of the pack runner I have always brought real food during a marathon, for example; we have these great raisin rolls here in NL and I put honey on them, cut them in 4’s and then stick them in my hydration vest! Dates I don’t do because uh… they might cause too many toilet stops 😀
Ohh those raisin rolls sounds amazing! And good point about the dates!
My runs are never that long that would require fuel or food. But when I was training for a half or marathon, I would use Huma or Maurten. Sometimes I would bring Tailwind or make my own gel with Generation UCAN. Lots of options!
Wow thats awesome that you made your own gel with UCAN! I bet that was great!