I stop once an hour for a stretch and a snack on a trainers advice (though this was advice to me, everyone is different, lol, but the jist is about an hour between snacks). I don't eat heavy cause my belly doesn't like it when I am working out in any form. Usually some kind of nutrition bar, I tend to look at the balance of carbs and protein in them. I like to make sure I'm getting in protein, cause it burns slower, so I feel more energy longer. And then I have my water with electrolytes in it, I go through about a bottle an hour of water. Sometimes I feel like more food, those days I carry bananas, apples and almonds with me.

I tried gel packs, personally didn't care for them, it's a texture thing, grosses me out, lol. But my husband loves them. I crack up when he uses them cause basically he's on a sugar high, and he's so funny.

Try things, see what tastes good to you, learn what your belly can handle while riding, and just see what works. It's often trial and error on what works for each person.