Day 41: Champion Chow

A lot of people have a negative reaction to the idea of fiber. They think it tastes like cardboard or dirt....or it's a supplement that old people have to take.

But fiber is a necessary and beneficial component to any healthy eating plan, my friends. So let's talk about it.

Everyone knows that fiber makes you poop. There, I said it. Fiber absorbs water in your bowels and can help to soften your stools and keep you more regular. More pooping means the food is working its way through your system more quickly and you're getting the nutrients you need while getting rid of the stuff you don't. Fiber helps to prevent constipation so all that waste isn't getting stuck and causing a back-up inside of you. It's gross. But it's important.

Did you know that fiber can also lower your cholesterol, control your blood sugar, aid in weight loss, and possibly even help to prevent certain types of cancer?

If you want more information on the benefits of fiber, check out THIS LINK from the Mayo Clinic. It has literally oodles* of information on fiber!

My preferred source of fiber is Fiber One cereal. I love this stuff. I'm not much of a cereal eater at all, so I can't comment on how wonderful a start to your day it is to grab a bowlful of Fiber One with some skim milk.

But I will tell you that Fiber One has a lot of non-cereal uses. Fiber One helps to make you fuller faster, but it doesn't have a gross, grainy taste you might think. Fiber One is actually sweet, but not overpoweringly so. It has a very mild flavor in my opinion, which makes it versatile to use in many different ways.

I love putting this stuff on top of a salad as a healthier alternative to fatty croutons. It adds just enough crunch to enhance your salad experience.

I will also regularly add a few sprinkles of Fiber One to my yogurt. It adds a little bit of a sweet crunch when you're in a yogurt funk and you're bored of eating the same old thing every day.

Believe it or not, Fiber One also makes a great breading to put on meat or other items for a wonderful faux-fried taste without all the grease and fat. Check back Sunday for a couple of my favorite Fiber One recipes.

If you're STILL not convinced of the wonder of Fiber One cereal, at least entertain the idea of picking up some other Fiber One products. Their muffins (found in the bakery section), for one, are delicious and so filling. And they also make a variety of granola bars, yogurt, baking mixes, toaster pastries (like Pop-Tarts), breads, cottage cheese, and even shakes.

I've only tried the cereal, muffins, and bars, so I'd love to hear what you all think of their other products.

Yes, their television commercials are horrifyingly stupid....but their products are worth a shot.

If you want a coupon for Fiber One products, head over to their website www.FiberOne.com.

*An oodle is a term of measurement equivalent to a gob, a bunch, a ton, or a crapload.