Kellogg's Fiber Webinar
Products touting fiber benefits remain mysterious to most Moms. We question whether our families get too much or too little, and wonder about the correct daily amount and which foods have it. Kellogg’s recently sponsored a Fiber webinar featuring Leslie Bonci, author of Better Digestion and an accomplished dietician, to demonstrate how the brand knows good fiber and to educate us all on the importance of including fiber in our diets.
Leslie explained how 9 out of 10 Americans don’t eat the recommended amount of fiber, making worries of getting too much unfounded. I could hardly believe the laundry list of benefits Leslie discussed such as helping with weight management, digestion, and absorbing nutrients from other foods. The weight benefits come into play since it takes longer to chew food with fiber, which helps make you feel full, and, foods with fiber often contain fewer calories and lots of nutrients. With digestive health just as important as bone or heart health, the advantages fiber provides are crucial. Fiber also remains an especially important part of a child’s diet, as kids who consume a high fiber diet have a less likely chance of being overweight.
Even though consumers understand the benefits that come from a high fiber/whole grain diet, most don’t know the differences between the two. Fiber actually exists as a nutrient IN whole grain, a part of the bigger picture. Products touting whole grain content don't always get you the right amount of the fiber you need, so it's important to confirm that the product contains a higher source of fiber on the Nutritional Facts Panel, rather than assuming it provides a good source.
While cereal boxes claim to have “whole grain” or “a healthy amount of fiber,” nearly half of all cereals with whole grain claims provide less than a significant source of fiber. Once you start consciously choosing the right type of cereal for your family, you can increase fiber intake by at least 144%! Kellogg’s cereal choices always had a solid amount of fiber, but now that they’ve added more to Apple Jacks and Fruit Loops, Kellogg’s has the most fiber content out of any brand.
Bottom line, women should get about 25 grams of fiber per day and men should try for 38 grams. You can accomplishing this feat easily by looking at nutritional facts and the nutritional label of the product. A “good source” has 3 grams of fiber (10% of daily value) and an “excellent source” contains 5 grams (20% of daily value). Visit www.kelloggsnutrition.com to find articles about fiber and important nutritional tools such as The Fiber Tracker, to help you maintain your intake, and the Size It Up Quiz to test your snack portion IQ. With this information, we can make fiber less of a mystery and more of a regular addition to our family’s diet.
re: Kellogg's Fiber Webinar
I think it's great that more companies are 'hiding' fiber in their products. My mom, dad and MIL are all doing weight watchers and I never realized that if a product contains more product then it doesn't fall into the same 'point' level as something that doesn't. As a result, I'm starting to pay more and more attention!