Advantage of Higher-Fiber Foods
Take a look at the breakfasts and dinners below. Note how the second selection, which contains more natural, whole foods, weighs a lot more for the same amount of calories and contains more fiber. You get to eat more!
Breakfast
Bagel Breakfast:
| Food: | Fiber g: | Calories: | |
| 1 bagel (4 ounces) | 2 g | 311 | |
| Light cream cheese | 0 g | 70 | |
| Milk, skim 1 cup | 0 g | 85 | |
| Total | 2 g | 466 |
Total weight: 13 ouncesOatmeal Breakfast:
| Food: | Fiber g: | Calories: |
| Cooked oatmeal (2 cups) | 4 g | 281 |
| Skim milk (1 cup) | 0 g | 85 |
| Orange (1) | 3 g | 61 |
| Total | 7 g | 427 |
Total weight: 29 ounces• You get twice the amount of food by weight by eating the Oatmeal Breakfast and you get more than 3 times the fiber.• The Oatmeal Breakfast contains 10% fewer calories!!• It also contains 3 less grams of saturated fat and 751 milligrams less sodium than the Bagel Breakfast.
Dinner
Macaroni and Cheese Dinner:
| Food: | Fiber g: | Calories: |
| Mac & Cheese (1 cup) | 1 g | 390 |
| Salad (2 cups) | 5 g | 81 |
| Apple sauce (1/2 cup) | 1 g | 86 |
| Total | 7 g | 557 |
Total weight: 22 ouncesStir Fry Dinner
| Food: | Fiber g | Calories: |
| Broccoli Stir-fry Brown Rice (2 cups) | 6 g | 259 |
| Salad (2 cups) | 5 g | 81 |
| Diced apple with skin | 3 g | 55 |
| Total | 14 g | 395 |
Total weight: 27 ounces• You get 22% more food by weight by choosing the Broccoli Stir-fry with Brown Rice versus the Macaroni & Cheese. By volume, you get 42% more food with the Broccoli Stir Fry – 5 cups versus 3.5 cups!!• The Stir-fry dinner has 162 fewer calories and 7 more grams of fiber.• It contains 14 less grams of fat, 7.5 fewer grams of saturated fat and 480 fewer milligrams of sodium.Exercise more frequently and consistently and find activities that you really like that will keep you coming back for more! Exercise makes you crave the right carbs.
Here are a few suggestions to help you switch from a refined-foods diet to a better, higher-fiber diet:• Baked potatoes instead of potato chips and french fries• Vegetable soup or stir fry instead of deli sandwiches• Cooked oatmeal or whole grain cereal instead of breakfast pastries• Yogurt and fruit instead of cookies
