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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – We all need it but few of us get enough of it. Celebrity dietitian has some easy ideas for getting more fiber into your family’s diet.
From keeping our immune system functioning to bowel regularity, our digestive systems do a lot for our everyday health. To do all that hard work, one thing that our guts crave above just about anything else is fiber. “Most of us consume about half of the fiber our bodies need to function correctly. As parents, we need to get inventive about ways to increase our family’s fiber intake,” advises dietitian and “Living Skinny in Fat Genes” author Felicia Stoler, DCN, former host of “Honey, We’re Killing the Kids”. Stoler has some fun and easy ways to accomplish this.
How much fiber do we need?
Toddlers ages 1-3 need 19 grams of fiber daily. Children ages 4-8 years need 25 grams, about the same as adult women. Teenage boys and adult men should aim for 38 grams per day. That fiber requirement probably won’t be met by eating fast food. “A four-piece serving of chicken nuggets has just one gram of fiber. A six-inch turkey breast deli sandwich only has three grams.”
If your family’s response to the idea of eating a high-fiber diet is a collective groan because they think it means piling their plates high with vegetables, Stoler has some more creative ideas. “Sometimes playing ‘hide the fiber’ is the best way to improve a family’s nutrition.”
Simple ways to get your family to eat more fiber
Play “hide the flax”. “I’m always tossing ground flax seed into foods. One of my favorite tips is to use it as a thickener for tomato sauce or soup.”
Serve a lot of side dishes. “That’s a great way to load up on vegetables or grain-based foods. Along with a main course of poultry or fish, I prepare a lot of side dishes with beans, lentils and multiple grains. For flavor and color this time of year, toss in some cranberries.”
Add an “invisible” fiber supplement to dishes: “I keep Sunfiber on the kitchen counter so it’s very convenient while I’m cooking. Since it’s odorless, tasteless and mixes easily into just about anything, it’s routinely my secret ingredient in a lot of foods from pancakes, waffles and muffins to chili, soup and yogurt. One scoop adds six grams of fiber, which is significant. It also helps support your family’s bone health because it supports better calcium and magnesium absorption.”
Offer to bring a snack for fall get-togethers. “Kids go crazy for fruit kabobs. Just thread fresh melon balls onto wooden skewers. Then flip over half of the empty melon shell, and stick the skewers into it for a festive presentation. If you’re short on time, buy the pre-cut melon and stick the skewers in a Styrofoam ball from the craft store or invert a colander. When fruit is presented in an enticing way, people want to eat it.”
Make sure plates are filled with colorful foods. “Food that’s appealing stands a greater chance of getting eaten. Use cookie cutters to cut sandwiches made with high-fiber bread. Use a vegetable peeler to cut carrots or cucumbers into ribbons. Experiment with cutting other vegetables into fun shapes.”
Dress up fruits for dessert. “The beauty of high-fiber desserts is that they fill you up, especially if you slow down and savor each bite. So you won’t be as tempted to over-indulge. Frozen grapes are fun and easy. Fruit cobblers are also a good choice for chillier evenings, especially if you sprinkle some Sunfiber into the mixture before baking. Making it with an oatmeal topping will add even more fiber and nutrients.”
Stoler also advises including your children in creating menus, grocery shopping, gardening, setting the table and food preparation. “This may not only broaden their interest in trying different foods, it can also teach them important life skills around food such as budgeting money and time management skills. Passing on your knowledge will help them to be great parents!”
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