Fiber is the Future

A recent survey of over 200 dietitians conducted by Pollock Communications says that fiber will be on people’s minds in 2012:

• 72% of dietitians surveyed said consumers will want more organic, sustainable, fresh and minimally processed – read: higher fiber – foods in 2012
• 94% of the dietitians said the New Year will bring a push for increased fruits & vegetable consumption
• 69% of RDs in the sample said they will use MyPlate to counsel patients and clients in the Near Year

Making New Year’s resolutions? Here’s how you can bump up your fiber intake while simultaneously shedding some of that Holiday poundage:

• Aim for 3 pieces of fruit per day – use them as between meal snacks
• Analyze your plate – emphasize the role of fruits and vegetables, filling half your plate with colorful produce
• If it’s white: walk away – cut back on calorie laden white carbs and fill yourself up with high fiber alternatives such as legumes and whole grains

To find a dietitian in your area to help maximize your nutrition success in the New Year – check out the American Dietetic Association’s “RD Finder” tool at http://www.eatright.org/programs/rdfinder/.

You know the feeling – the, “How did I not know about these/that?!” feeling…right now, Peeled Snacks are my these/that snack!

I first read about Peeled Snacks in an Inc. Magazine article blurb entitled “The Small Joys of Family Business”. The next day, I saw them at a Starbuck’s in Hoboken, NJ; and later that same day, there they were at Whole Foods in Manhattan.

As a dietitian with a focus – and a blog – on dietary fiber,  I can say it is a rare to find a laudable iteration of fruit – and in particular – one that retains all of the benefits of fresh fruit; but Peeled Snacks has certainly done it.

I sampled the “Apple-2-the-core” dried apple slices. Ingredients: organic apples. Not bad. Add in the fact that an individual serving has 110 calories and 3 grams of dietary fiber, with no added sugar or fat, and you have pretty much the only nutritional duplicate of an actual apple, which technically, these are…

Now, these snacks are certainly pricier than an actual apple (maybe not in New York though?) – but they are a close substitute. No chemical preservative aftertaste and not overly chewy, these are a great go-to alternative to fresh fruit that will keep you full for less fat and calories than your typical dried fruit snack.

Peeled Snacks offer organic, all natural, gluten-free GMO-free dried fruit and nut snacks that come in 7 fruit and 3 fruit mix flavors.

Interesting fact from the Peeled Snacks FAQ page: most of the Peeled Snacks are not technically raw foods because they are heated to 125 degrees F, slightly above the 118 degrees F requirement to be considered a raw food…a small price to pay – I’d say – for hard to come by packaged fruit goodness.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently endorsed the new National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) recommendation to begin screening children for high cholesterol as early as age 9.

While the importance of early detection of cardiovascular disease – the number one killer of Americans – cannot be understated, these recommendations do not come without controversy. Some raise concern that the majority of the experts on the expert panel are closely aligned with drug companies, who of course stand to benefit with an increasing pool of people needing their products.

This is not the first time a body has recommended early cholesterol screening, although it is by far the earliest age at which screening has been proposed. Previously, in 2007, the US Preventive Services Task Force recommended “Screening for Lipid Disorders” commence at age 20.

What does this mean from a dietary standpoint? It is well-established that a diet high in fiber – and in particular, soluble fiber – helps to lower blood cholesterol levels and associated cardiovascular disease risk. Soluble fiber is found in most fiber-containing foods, and in particular, oat bran, nuts, beans, seeds, barley, peas and certain fruits and vegetables.

Bottom line? Increasing your fiber from naturally-occurring sources – no matter your age – can only help your health!

The American Dietetic Association has just released its 20th annual nationwide consumer survey findings: “Nutrition and You: Trends 2011“. The survey asks a series of questions to determine the general state of perceived health in the US.

Are you doing all you can to achieve balanced nutrition & a healthy diet?

• 50% responded yes – up from just under 50% responding yes since 2002

Where do you get most of your nutrition information?

• 67% listed television as the preferred source, with magazines and the internet tied for second

What foods have you increased your consumption of?

• Respondents said they are eating more vegetables (49%), whole grains (48%), fish (46%) and chicken (44%)

What foods have you cut back on?

• Beef (39%), pork (35%), dairy products (22%)

What are the foods you hear “a lot” about?

Percentage of Respondents who Have Heard "A Lot" About Certain Foods

While the results were largely anticipated – it is still interesting to acknowledge that despite (all 754) respondents’ relatively positive opinion of their own diet, two-thirds of the country is still overweight or obese.

The FDA has a new video encouraging parents to help improve their kids’ fiber intake:

The FDA dietitian points out that for kids, fiber:

• Helps their digestive system
• Prevents against chronic disease when they’re older
• Needs are 14-31 grams of fiber per day

Recommended sources of fiber to incorporate in a child’s diet to help meet these needs include:

• Beans
• Peas
• Fruits
• Vegetables
• Whole grain bread, cereal, pasta

To learn more about the FDA’s nutrition education efforts for children and teens, visit the Spot the Block campaign at http://www.fda.gov/Food/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/KidsTeens/ucm115810.htm.