A gym bag usually has one snack sitting in the side pocket for after a session. Whatever that snack is, swap it first — it's the easiest one to control, since it gets reached for out of habit rather than in the moment.
What goes in the side pocket
A processed bar wrapped in foil keeps for months, which is exactly why it ends up sitting in a bag for months too, stale by the time it's finally eaten. A small container of Ajwa or Piarom dates does the same job — small, doesn't need a fridge, doesn't leak — and gets replaced often enough that it's actually fresh when eaten. Piarom especially holds up well in a warm bag; it doesn't turn sticky the way a softer date can.
Then the pre-session snack, if there is one
Some people eat something before training too. If that's already a banana or a bowl of oats, there's no reason to change it — the side-pocket swap is the one that matters, since it's the snack most likely to sit forgotten and get replaced by whatever's at the petrol kiosk on the drive home instead.
For grade and price comparisons, our Medjool price guide covers what a box costs, and the Malaysian and imported kurma guide compares local packing against imported stock.