General Information:
A high fiber diet means eating foods that have a lot of fiber. Fiber is the part of fruits, vegetables and grains not broken down by your body. A high fiber diet will make your stool firmer. Your Doctor may want you to eat more fiber if you have diverticulosis or irritable bowel syndrome. This diet will help if you have constipation, high cholesterol or diabetes.
Instructions:
Add fiber to your diet slowly. Start by adding 2 or 3 new high fiber foods each week. Drink at least 5 to 6 glasses (soda-pop can size) of water each day. Meat, fish, poultry, cheese, eggs and milk do not contain fiber. But they are important foods to eat to get a balanced diet. Try to eat a total of 5 different fruits and vegetables each day. Eat as many of the following foods as you can.
High Fiber Foods to Add to Your Diet
| Breads | Breads and baked goods made with whole wheat or other whole grain fiber, bran, wheat germ, rye, oats, oat bran, triticale or barley. Graham, rye or wheat cracker. Buckwheat or kasha products. Rice cakes. | |
| Cereals | Bran cereals, Granolas. Rolled oats or oatmeal. Wheat germ. | |
| Desserts | Plain gelatin, Frozen ices, Flavored fruit juice ices, sugar, honey, sugar substitutes, hard candy | |
| Miscellaneous | High protein broth, High protein gelatin, Other low-residue, high-protein, high-calorie oral supplements, iodized salt. |
Do not use this diet for infants under one year of age. Instead, give your child fluids (electrolyte solutions such as PEDIALYTE®), which you can buy at the grocery store. You may also give your child gelatin water (a 3-oz package in a quart of water) or a mixture made by adding _ teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon sugar to 1 pint of water.