I've found Fig Newtons (or Newmans, I don't taste much of a difference) to have about the same nutritional makeup of Clif bars and the like, and had switched to them years ago. I can't stomach gels at all.
On longer rides, I might have a stop where I would grab a sandwich - but harder to do that with pandemic shutting places down. I'm thinking these mealbars will be my sandwich substitute on 60 mile plus rides - vs. more fig bars.