Why aren’t we getting enough dietary fiber?

America: We’re still not getting enough dietary fiber! According to the 2015 U.S. Dietary Guidelines, we are a fiber-deficient nation. Why is this still happening? Pew Research Center reports that fast-food restaurants serve 50 million people every day. Their menu items are notorious for being low-fiber, although most restaurants now offer some healthier options.

Adults need 25 to 30 grams of dietary fiber every single day. To hit that goal, you need to average 10 grams per meal. Here is the fiber content of the most popular fast-food menu items:

• McDonald’s French Fries: Order the small size and you’ll get just 2 grams of fiber. The large delivers only 5 grams.
• Burger King Whopper: This burger contains a “whopping” 3 grams of fiber.
• Wendy’s Crispy Chicken Sandwich: This will only give you 2 grams of fiber.

Four delicious and easy ways to get enough dietary fiber

• Eat fresh fruit with each meals. A medium apple that is 3” in diameter contains more than 4 grams of dietary fiber.
• Keep Sunfiber on the kitchen counter, so you’ll remember to add a scoop into your meals. One scoop delivers 6 grams of soluble fiber. And because Sunfiber blends invisibly into foods and most beverages, it can be your secret ingredient in everything from casseroles to baked goods and fruit smoothies.
• Eat more beans. One-half cup of canned black beans will give you 7.5 grams of fiber. If you are reluctant to eat more beans because of embarrassing gas and bloating, go back to tip #2. Sunfiber won’t lead to excess gas, bloating or the diarrhea associated with other fiber supplements.
• Order vegetables with every meal. A 50-year-old woman who exercises less than 30 minutes per day should be eating 2.5 cups of vegetables every day, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Make each serving count. That cup of romaine lettuce in your Caesar Salad will only give you 1 gram of dietary fiber. A cup of acorn squash has 2 grams, and a cup of peas has 3 grams.

A daily diet filled with a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and grains – supplemented with Sunfiber – will help you achieve your dietary fiber goal.