I can't answer the original question, which is really what bluefish wants. Replicating commercial products in a home kitchen is partly art and partly voodoo. All I can say is that if you are motivated enough and willing to make enough dud batches, you'll probably come up with a homemade substitute your wife likes. Or maybe not. smile

As far as metabolizing food to energy, hiking is generally far less demanding than the athletic competitions, so speaking very generally, complex carbs that enter the bloodstream more slowly seem better suited to hiking. But, if your wife thinks these snacks work for her particular body and her personal needs, then she's the expert. I'm just the stranger sitting at a keyboard far, far away.