12 days of Holiday Craving: What-Your-Body-Says-You're-Missing - The 12th Day: Fiber

Craving anything this holiday season?  You might be because your body says you do.

So, for the next 12 days, I will be addressing 12 things you truly crave (and need) to stay active, healthy and merry this season.  Don't be afraid to use some of these recipes for holiday parties - can't hurt, right? 

I am positive you have asked yourself many times how old do you have to be before you feel the need to add Metamucil to your diet. 

With all the products on the market containing whole grains, your ability to get wholesome fiber is a lot easier than it used to be. The Wheat Foods Council offers this comprehensive list, with nutritional information, of foods containing fiber.  Fruits, vegetables, grains and beans are among the choices.

So, why is fiber important?  First, it is important to understand it comes in two forms - Soluble (will be broken down internally) and insoluble (well, you know where that goes...)

1. Soluable Fiber reduces the amount of cholesterol in your blood.  During the holidays, it is very, very likely there will be some fabulously fatty stuff being consumed - balance those meals (and reduce hunger) by having fiber as a regular part of your diet. 
    
2. Insoluable Fiber helps other foods move through your body, thus reducing irritable bowels and constipation.  Holiday meals often involve high-sugar, high-fat and hard-to-break-down proteins and a little fiber with that can make a tremendous help in ways I will not go into here. 

Food ideas for you:

• I use Flat-out wraps (Winner of 2009's "Healthiest Food") for all of my family's sandwiches, wraps (I do egg and hummus ones all the time) and individual lunch pizzas.  A gazillion recipes available here. 
• Use whole grain breads in your stuffing (note that whole grain white is only 30% whole grain but it is better than just white!)
• Seek out lentil soup - it's a protein, generally made with little fat and very, very filling.  Recipes available here.   

I am also running a 12-day Work-Life balance series, specifically written for the holiday season in my other column. Check it out!