Are You Fiber Deficient? Here’s One Easy Way to Fill Your Bowl.
A simple breakfast of cereal and milk is a staple for many people—and for good reason. Not only is it quick, easy and tasty, this classic morning combo has a good nutritional profile as well, providing plenty of vitamins and minerals, some protein and some fiber.
About that fiber… According to the USDA, most of us typically fall far short of reaching daily fiber intake goals, making it a “nutrient of concern” in American diets. The recommendation for Adequate Intake of dietary fiber is 14 grams/1,000 calories, or 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. There are two forms of fiber (soluble and insoluble), and both types are found in plants, so eating plenty of produce goes a long way toward upping your daily fiber tally. Choosing Wild Blueberries is a smart move in the right direction—a cup of Wild Blues provides 25% of the Daily Value for fiber.
Why is fiber so fabulous?
Most of us have heard that what Grandma called “roughage” is good for keeping things moving along well in the GI tract and helping prevent constipation. And while that’s still true, there are several more reasons to favor fiber-filled foods. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, fiber can help prevent heart disease by helping to lower cholesterol levels, and can help deter diabetes by aiding in blood sugar control. What’s more, a high-fiber eating plan tends to be lower in calories than one without, and also contributes to a feeling of fullness—together that can help with weight loss or weight maintenance efforts.
Why “go wild” at breakfast?
Fruit in general is a good choice at breakfast, and berries atop a bowl of hot or cold cereal are a natural. “Going wild” at breakfast by sprinkling Wild Blueberries over oatmeal or a favorite whole grain cereal is a great way to get more fiber into your morning meal. Why? The petite size of Wild Blueberries means there are roughly twice the number of berries in a cup compared to their cultivated counterparts. And, given that much of the berry’s fiber is found in the skin, more berries means more berry skins and therefore, more fiber. In fact, Wild Blueberries contain double the fiber of their cultivated counterparts (6 grams per cup).
Start your day with frozen Wild Blueberries
It’s so easy to add Wild Blueberries to your morning cereal—you don’t even need to have fresh berries on hand. In fact, most of the Wild Blueberry crop is frozen at the peak of ripeness (and usually within 24 hours of harvest), which preserves their nutrients and intense blueberry taste. What’s more, Wild Blueberries don’t even need to be thawed before sprinkling them onto your bowl of bran flakes. How’s that for nutritious, delicious and convenient?
Kit Broihier is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian and co-author of several cookbooks. She contributes regularly to a variety of national and regional publications and blogs. Previously on the editorial staff at Good Housekeeping magazine, she now owns a food and nutrition consulting company and currently serves as a nutrition advisor to the Wild Blueberry Association of North America.
