Know how much daily fiber you need?

Keeping Fit with Fiber

People don't often associate fiber with fitness—but they should! Eating small helpings of fiber-rich foods throughout the day is one way to get the body you want and one of the best ways to keep the body you want. To accompany regular workout routines, I work with my clients to devise a well-balanced nutrition plan. Plans will vary from client to client, but their daily fiber intake always remains the same:

To obtain the above objectives requires adding a serving of fiber to almost every meal and snack. Dietary fiber is the indigestible part of plant foods that moves through the gastrointestinal tract, cleaning it out, aiding elimination and helping to prevent gastrointestinal disease. Moreover, fiber increases the satiety of a meal, adding bulk and substance to keep you feeling full longer.

Simply put: Fiber will fill you up and clean you out!

So eat several servings of fiber throughout the day to keep your tummy happy and your body fueled with energy. Here are 10 easy ways to boost your daily fiber intake:

1. Add fresh berries to your morning meal
   
2. Have dried or fresh fruit for dessert at dinnertime
   
3. Add veggies and beans to ready-made soups
   
4. Toss a handful of finely chopped veggies into your morning eggs
   
5. Add raw nuts or cooked beans to a salad
   
6. Eat a whole fruit instead of drinking the juice
   
7. Be sure to eat the peels on your potatoes, carrot and fruits
   
8. Add a spoonful of a fiber supplement to your morning juice (like Metamucil©)
   
9. Swap iceberg lettuce for spinach or dark green lettuce varieties
   
10. Snack on crispy and delightful MultiGtain Wafers (be sure to enjoy with plenty of water)
    

I challenge you to incorporate more fiber into your diet today. Not only will you feel better, but you'll look better too! In the months ahead, I'll continue to add resources and helpful tips to this blog so that you can learn more about how nutrition and fitness work together to keep your body healthy.