Add fiber to your dinner tonight with this last-minute pesto bean soup!
Why did mom always tell you to eat your vegetables? Because mom is always right! What do vegetables, beans, lentils, fruits, whole and intact grains, seeds and nuts all have in common? Fiber! We are still learning more and more every day about the power of fiber in our diet and fiber rich foods for weight loss. Its magic is seemingly endless:
- Fiber fills you up, decreasing your overall calorie intake. T. Colin Campbell, Ph.D., (author of “The China Study”) and many more have published studies that demonstrate the power of fiber to facilitate weight loss.
- It’s tied to gut health! It feeds the healthy bacteria in your gut that helps support your immunity and your metabolism.
- Fiber binds with unhealthy cholesterol, improving overall heart health.
- It keeps you regular!
Gimmick diets and extreme solutions always leave us standing in a puddle of failure. With a plate full of fiber, you’ll leave the table feeling full, satisfied and in control. Want to improve your health for life? Change your focus to fiber!
Add fiber to your dinner tonight with this last-minute pesto bean soup!
How much fiber do I need?
The current recommendation is for women to try to eat at least 21 to 25 grams of fiber per day, while men should aim for 30 to 38 grams per day. However, don’t be afraid to go above and beyond! Getting 40-plus grams per day? You’re a fiber super hero!
Here are some fiber amounts for reference
|
Food |
Serving Size |
Fiber |
| Raspberries | 1 cup | 8g |
| Pear | 1 medium | 5.5g |
| Apple, with skin | 1 medium | 4.5g |
| Broccoli, boiled | 1 cup | 5g |
| Brussels Sprouts | 1 cup | 4g |
| Potato, with skin, baked | 1 medium | 4g |
| Quinoa | 1 cup | 5g |
| Brown rice, cooked | 1 cup | 3.5g |
| Spaghetti, whole wheat | 2oz | 6g
|
| Black beans, boiled | 1 cup | 15g |
| Baked beans | 1 cup | 10g |
| Chia seeds | 1oz | 10g |
| Artichoke | 1 medium | 6.9g |
| Avocado, peeled | 1 medium | 9.2g |
Erin Weidmar is Registered Dietitian Nutritionist with Norton Healthcare.
Meet Erin:
Hey all! I’m Erin, and I’m excited to be sharing with you any and all information on my favorite topic — food! I’m a Louisville native, a mom of two (plus one on the way), a registered dietitian nutritionist with Norton Healthcare’s employee wellness program.
I live in the real world. I work full time and have young kids. With the way we live, I’m not able to make three home-cooked meals from scratch for my family every day. So, I have figured out ways, when it comes to feeding myself and others, to have a personal motto of “eat pretty good, most of the time.” And that’s what I wanted to share with you!
Let’s connect and help each other do just that! Follow #NortonEats and @NortonHealth on Instagram to see all of my food and nutrition posts. Help me stay connected with you as well by tagging #NortonEats on all your great meals!
Looking forward to it!
–Erin
Be sure to follow #NortonEats and @NortonHealth on Instagram to see all of Erin’s food and nutrition posts. Help her stay connected with you as well by tagging #NortonEats on all your great meals!
