# Getting the daily recommended fiber a day is freaking hard! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 30, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919 "2020-09-30T21:13:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/1 "2020-09-30T21:13:24Z")
I mean, it’s not so much a problem when I’m at home all day. I can just stuff my pie-hole with fruits and veggies all day. But on the go? How the fuck does one do it? If anybody has the secret, I’d sure like to know. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/2 "2020-09-30T21:17:35Z")
Metamucil capsules. A couple of those, with a glass of water, a couple of times a day. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/3 "2020-09-30T21:19:57Z")
What are you eating for breakfast? Try All-Bran or a similar cereal. (A standard serving of that meets 44% of dietary requirements). And whats the problem with eating apples on the go? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/4 "2020-09-30T21:29:43Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Metamucil capsules. A couple of those, with a glass of water, a couple of times a day Bingo ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/5 "2020-09-30T21:38:20Z")
Checking the bottle of Metamucil capsules I have here, each serving of five capsules contains only two grams of dietary fiber and the RDA is 25-30 grams. So you have to be popping capsules all day to get the full amount. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/6 "2020-09-30T21:46:44Z")
Don’t the capsules suck compared to natural sources? Not that I’m opposed to capsules, I was just trying to go the natural route. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/7 "2020-09-30T21:48:48Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > And whats the problem with eating apples on the go? Good question, though if the OP is trying to up fiber intake, pears have slightly more, 6 grams, as compared to apples’ 4.5. The USDA recommendations are 25 grams/day for women, 28 for men. It’s not that hard to meet: all bran (9 gr.) pear (6 ) Fiber One bar (9 gr.) 1 c. peas (7) Total: 31, which is 3 over the USDA recommendation if you’re a man, 6 over if you’re a woman. A Fiber One bar (or something similar) and a pear are easy grab-and-go foods. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2020, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/8 "2020-09-30T21:56:06Z")
Right now my routine is. Bowl of oatmeal: 4 Banana: 3 orange: 3 Lunch: Usually just a deli sandwich. Dinner: Green veggies 4 Bedtime snack: some kind of fruit 3 - 4 Still falling short. And it’s a challenge for me to eat all of the above. I don’t always succeed. Guess I just need to keep at it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/9 "2020-10-01T00:20:59Z")
Popcorn is a decent way to fit a good bit more in without major changes ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/10 "2020-10-01T00:49:46Z")
Little baggies of carrots and peppers help me. A bowl of most bran or shredded wheat cereal has plenty of fibre. So do some protein bars, oatmeal and Fibre One. Making small substitutions in packaged bread or crackers (choosing higher fibre options) adds up during the day. Popcorn has some fibre. Using beans or vegetables as a sidedish when possible makes a big difference. Fruit helps too. Metamucil has plenty - but you can also buy gummies or sweet tablets that taste great and contain several grams if you think you need more. You could also add chia seeds to salads or smoothies. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/11 "2020-10-01T01:53:34Z")
I used to keep these in my desk at work, they’re actually pretty tasty, and one serving has 4 grams of fiber: > **[Metamucil Fiber Thins Apple Crisp | Metamucil®](https://www.metamucil.com/en-us/products/fiber-thins/fiber-thins-apple-crisp)** > > Looking for a low calorie snack like fiber cookies or fiber thins? Try Metamucil Fiber Thins! This apple crisp high fiber snack helps promote digestive health. Also, when you’re home, beans are great for fiber. A cup of black beans has 16 grams. Make baked beans, bean soup, add them to salads, tacos, chili … ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/12 "2020-10-01T10:10:27Z")
**[Chia seed.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chia_seed)** Two tablespoons provides about 35-40% of your recommended daily fiber intake. They’re kind of bland, but you can mix 3-4 tablespoons into a bowl of yogurt and it’s pretty good. And it is important to moisten them before eating (e.g. by mixing with yogurt). They absorb moisture from around them and and create a slightly gelatinous layer on their surface, which can bind them together in clumps or make them stick to other surfaces. > **[Health & Diet](https://www.webmd.com/diet/default.htm)** > > From healthy diet plans to helpful weight loss tools, here you'll find WebMD's latest diet news and information. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/13 "2020-10-01T10:38:39Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > But on the go? How the fuck does one do it? I know what you mean, but it is doable. Right now I spend my whole day indoors, but this is what I did before the COVID 19 outbreak: 1) I ate an apple or two before the actual breakfast. 2) I carried fruit in my car and I ate them on my way to lunch (which is traditionally dinner in Romania), usually in the traffic (if it was possible); if it was not possible, I ate them in the parking lot (and I always carried a bag to easily dispose of the banana peels and apple core). 3) Any snack I had before supper consisted of fruit only. It may sound weird but I did for years and I am way within the recommended weight for my height. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/14 "2020-10-01T14:01:19Z")
I recommend All-Bran’s “bran buds” product. It mixes nicely with yogurt, and gives it a lovely crunch, as well as giving 13 grams of fiber per 1/3 of a cup. There’s half your fiber requirement right there. And as far as oatmeal goes, STOP using the processed oats (3 gm per 1/3 cup), and take the time to cook up some steel cut product or oat groats (7 grams per 1/3 cup). If that fails, there are the ultimate fiber cereals like Colon Blow and Super Colon Blow, but I believe a prescription is needed for those. ;-D ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/15 "2020-10-01T14:14:37Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/Ku42Iszh9KM/maxresdefault.jpg "Colon Blow - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ku42Iszh9KM) ---
**Author:** ![Theodore-Striker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Theodore-Striker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theodore-Striker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2020, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/16 "2020-10-01T15:20:13Z")
High fiber cereals are a good start- bran flakes, grape nuts, shredded wheat/ mini wheats, and even Muesli are good ones. Frosted mini wheats are also a decent on the go snack, as long as you have something to drink with them. Fiber One bars and brownies are easy grab and go, and are generally tasty for a relatively healthy food (only 70 calories I believe). Most berries (blue, raspberries, blackberries) have more fiber than apples, and some even more than pears as well, and can easily be eaten snackably. Broccoli and carrots are decent sources as well, as are baked potatoes. Dried fruits will work fine, but you have to be careful of the sugar content of these. My local Costco has dried granny smiths made by Vacaville Fruit that are no sugar added, and are pretty tasty, and provide 14% a serving. You could probably do the same at home with sliced apple rings and a dehydrator. It has helped me to take a small snack every few hours approach, easier to fit in the fruit that way. If you are carb friendly, there are plenty of high fiber bread options as well. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/17 "2020-10-02T05:18:03Z")
Me, I ain’t got no problems with fiber. So I suppose I shouldn’t post in this thread. But I know one thing that seems relevant: RAISIN BRAN cereal. I love that stuff. And 20minutes after I eat a bowl, the fiber clearly has its effect on me . It obviously contains a shit-load of fiber in every serving. 😄 ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/18 "2020-10-02T06:29:54Z")
Steel-cut oats take a LONG time to cook, relatively speaking, on the stovetop, but they’re great when done overnight in a Crock Pot. You do need to make sure to use plenty of butter or oil on the liner or you will have a very goopy mess. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/19 "2020-10-02T12:39:01Z")
When you buy food on the road, be sure to get things packed in cardboard boxes or containers. Then eat the cardboard too. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919/20 "2020-10-02T13:59:55Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Steel-cut oats take a LONG time to cook That’s what pressure cookers are for. I use mine for oat groats. 25 minutes on high and they’re perfect. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/getting-the-daily-recommended-fiber-a-day-is-freaking-hard/921919.md?page=2)