Although it provides no nutrients by itself, fiber benefits our bodies in several ways. Insoluble fiber (wheat bran, and some fruits and vegetables) assists the digestive tract by helping to push along other waste. And soluble fiber (fiber that dissolves in water) helps prevent cholesterol from being absorbed into the blood stream.
Bless my DH's heart; he's just not a high-fiber kinda guy. He'll take white bread, white rice and rolled oats any day over more substantial varieties because they "are too chewy" or "taste like cardboard." And he's not really keen on green, leafy vegetables, either. Unfortunately, that may be one reason why he had his gall bladder removed last week.Of course, I've taken tips from healthy bloggers and learned to slip pureed veggies or wheat germ into other recipes to increase the fiber in his diet. (As I've said before, some of this lifestyle change is akin to training children.)
For the rest of us, high-fiber foods not only taste better, but also help to stave off hunger.One of my favorite product lines is Bob's Red Mill, purveyors of old-fashioned stone ground whole grain products.
"Our slow turning millstones grind the bran, endosperm and germ (containing its nutritious wheat germ oil) into flour in a cool natural way, creating a more assimilable food," says Bob's web site, which is full of good recipes.
One of my favorite Red Mill products is Steel Cut Oats. Until I tried Red Mill varieties, I thought hot breakfast cereals were pretty "run of the mill."
Then! On the last press trip, one of the foodie journalists told me she BROWNS the entire package of oats - either under her broiler or in a cast iron skillet - before storing them. When cooked, she says, they deliver a delicious nutty flavor that's hard to beat. I agree! I agree!
And of course, I usually add chopped apple, raisins or dried cranberries to my breakfast delight - just because I like it!
How do you pump up the fiber content of your meals?
6 comments:
Since veggies are "free" on Weight Watchers, I think I'm one of the few Americans who get MORE than the recommended amount of fiber. LOL!
I'm a huge fan of wheat germ. I add it into everything. Well, not quite.. but into my oatmeal, yogurt, on top of fresh fruit... you get the picture. I am one of those who is the opposite of your dh.. i HATE white bread and was raised on the grainiest, densest bread that we could find. Now I rarely eat bread but always choose products with the highest quantity of whole grains or fibre. Yum!
I like this idea of roasting the oats before cooking them. I'll have to give that a try. I'm always on the lookout for ways to get more fiber: whole grain breads, cereals, etc. I recently saw a recipe for using hot cooked barley as a breakfast cereal. Doesn't that sound yummy?
Thanks for the rec! I almost bought some RM oat bran on Sunday, but I held off. I'll pick it up next week!
Beyond eating tons of veggies, I like to add Flaxseed Meal for a fiber boost (which is a great addition to oatmeal). I get Bob's Red Mill brand at my local grocery.
I too, love the steel oats (same brand). I will have to try browning them next time I buy a bag.
I like to add garbanzo beans to my daily salad for added fiber. And I only eat whole wheat pastas and bread.
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