A great and easy way to add more fiber to your diet!

Quaker Oats has recently introduced Quaker Instant Oatmeal High Fiber to the store shelves.  This high fiber oatmeal provides you with 40% of the recommended daily value of fiber and makes a terrific addition to any healthy diet.  It’s available in two delicious flavors, Cinnamon Swirl and Maple & Brown Sugar.  Definitely give it a try if you are looking to get healthier and add fiber to your diet.  It is also a great alternative to a high fiber cereal.

How much fiber does a child need a day? It is recommended that children get their age plus 5 grams of fiber a day. If you are looking to increase the amount of fiber in your child’s diet there are many high fiber kid friendly foods to choose from.

Fiber Foods for Kids

• Fruit - Fruits can be a great source of fiber for kids. Pears have 4-5 grams of fiber. Bananas have approx. 3 grams of fiber. Fruits are always a healthy snack for kids!
• Cereal - It is best to limit your child’s consumption of sugary cereals. Look for low sugar cereals made with whole grains. In order for a cereal to be considered high fiber look for cereals that have at least 5 grams of fiber per serving. You can also buy cheerios and add some of your own high fiber cereal. For example, All Bran’s new Strawberry Medley is great but may contain more fiber than your child really needs. Therefore, just mix a handful in with your child’s cheerios or cereal of choice.
• Mott’s Apple Sauce with added fiber - Mott’s now sells an applesauce that has added fiber. This applesauce is definitely a high fiber kid friendly food!
• Oatmeal
• Hannover’s now has a bunch of whole grain snacks. My boys love there whole grain cheese puffs and they have 3 grams of fiber per serving. Look in the chip section in your grocery store.

Be sure to check our list of high fiber foods for more suggestions.

I recently purchased a high fiber cereal by Kellogg’s called All Bran Strawberry Medley. On the back of the box they have an All Bran 10 Day Challenge. They are challenging consumers to eat one serving of All Bran cereal for 10 days. They claim that due to fiber’s positive influence on our digestive system that we will have more energy and become more regular.

Are you up to the challenge?

We have received a few emails asking what is the best fiber supplement on the market? Before we answer that question, there are some questions that you have to ask yourself (or your doctor if you have special circumstances in terms of your intestinal tract, colon, etc). Finding the best fiber supplement depends on your needs, preference, and body. There are many different types of fiber supplements: (continue your reading )

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) says that you should consume 20-35 grams a day for a healthy adult.  Studies show that most Americans consume only half of the recommended amount!

Both soluble fiber and insoluble fiber can be found in plant foods. The difference lies in whether or not the food can be dissolved in water. Soluble fiber foods are foods that can be dissolved in water and actually provide the greatest health benefits. Soluble fibers typically would include the pulps or insides of fruits and vegetables, usually soft in nature. Soluble fibers undergo fermentation which will produce health benefits that we will discuss later. Insoluble fibers cannot be dissolved in water but aid in digestion and movement of stool within our bodies. Insoluble fibers are usually more sturdy in nature when compared to soluble fibers. Examples may include fruit or vegetable skins, stems, roots, seeds, etc.