How Do I Add More Fiber to My Diet?

Now that we’ve looked at why adding more fiber to our diet is a good idea, let’s take a quick look at the how. It isn’t really as difficult as you might think. We’ll look at a few simple things you can do when you go to the grocery store and then some specific recommendations for different groups of foods that are high in fiber.

The first thing to do is to be aware of the fiber content of foods. Become a label reader. If you are just starting out, take an extra hour at the store reading nutrition labels and looking at the fiber content. There really are a lot of foods out there with fiber in them. Unlike when I first started on a low-sodium diet, you don’t have to make nearly everything from scratch. All you need to do is make smart choices. And the things you pick don’t all have to have huge amounts to help you get to your goal. Sure, a serving of beans might have 15 grams, but no one wants to eat beans every day. But you can get that same 15 grams from two or three servings of vegetables or any of a number of combinations.

get that same 15 grams from two or three servings of vegetables or any of a number of combinations.

• Puffed rice cereal—0 grams; shredded wheat—5 grams

• White bread (such as Wonder)—0 grams; light wheat bread (such as Wonder)—5 grams

• Regular pasta (such as Barilla)—2 grams; whole wheat pasta (such as Barilla)—6 grams

• White flour—0 grams; whole wheat pastry flour—3 grams

The great news about these choices is that you’ll find the higher-fiber choice also tastes better, has more flavor, and leaves you feeling more satisfied.

Even the kind of ice cream you choose can make a difference. Ben and Jerry’s Super Fudge Chunk has 2 grams of fiber!

And of course, you should be looking to add more foods from the following groups to your diet.

This Tip was published in '500 HIGH-FIBER RECIPES by "DICK LOGUE" - p22 To p23'