Thought that under grains was where I would try this.

I know that we need more fiber in our diets and I am wondering how you have increased the fiber in yours, especially those of you with children.

I need practical ways. Mel is totally against it of course. He hates almost all veggies and fruits and grains. We are living on white rice, boiled white potatoes and meat. No wonder I have stomach problems and increasing cholestrol numbers. Since he is the main cook though, I need simple ideas that I can easily incorporate into meals. Oh yeah, they need to be easily accessible as well. We are limited here as to what we can find in the stores.

I'd have to say one of the best ways to increase grain in your diet is with multi-grain breads. Even if you can't grind your own grain, which of course is the absolute best, then purchasing multi-grain breads that are made at bakeries, is the best. You can also purchase ground flaxseed (make sure its ground and kept in your freezer), and put on your cereals, fruits and in your salads. We love it here and so do the kids.

Also, if he is the main cook and he won't use these types of breads, veggies or fruits, then your best bet is to have those types of things around that you can cook up on your own, especially if your cholesterol is up. My doctor also said excersise will bring your cholesterol levels down.

CJ,
I have heard of flaxseed before but have never tried it. I will have to look into that. It does look like I will just have to keep fiber foods available and do some supplemental cooking. I have tried explaining the fiber issue to him but he just hates most things that have fiber. Now if only chocolate had fiber..........

Maybe a compromise would work? My daughter has a fit to have to eat wheat bread, but I can put flax seed meal in pancake batter, muffins, etc. and she never complains. For her that's more tolerable than if I make whole wheat pancakes or whole wheat muffins. I think you could add it to any homebaked good - even chocolate brownies! I also have a wonderful recipe for Oatmeal Wheat Germ Chocolate Chip cookies if you are interested. They are really good - my kids woof them down. Oatmeal is another good 'add in'...lots of recipes benefit from an addition of oatmeal. Whatever you do, I think you have to make the change a gradual one. One thing at a time. I get aggravated when I think about when our kids were babies and we ate whole wheat everything - and they loved it. I have no idea how things got switched over or when it happened - but one day we were eating white bread again.

Also, I don't know if you like to garden at all, but sometimes kids are more inclined to eat things (or at least try them) that they've grown themselves. Might be worth a try!

Good luck!

Flax seed can affect people with allergies. If anyone is allergic to other grains or nuts, be careful. My father thought he was having a heart attack, and it was from eating hollywood bread.
lacyj

Well I went to the health food store today and could not find ground flaxseed. I did buy flax seed oil even though I know that is not fiber, I thought it might be a good thing health wise. I did buy oatbran instant cereal and instant oatmeal that were higher in fiber than the grocery store versions. I also bought some frozen blueberries to add to the cereal. The fresh blueberries are just too expensive now. It is just so hard to find anything in this little town. I will have to make a trip to a larger city and stock up I guess. I like the idea of my dd raising something she might eat. I think we will give that a try this summer. We have a hard time trying to garden due to the deer, rabbits, and everything else but I might try some container veggies for her.

Farmgirl - Please share your recipe for Oatmeal Wheat Germ Chocolate Chip cookies with me.

Didn't know where the best place would be to post this recipe, so I'm posting it here!

Oatmeal Wheat Germ Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. wheat germ
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter
2 eggs
2 c. quick cooking oats
2 c. semi sweet chocolate chips (I like to use the mini chips)
1 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Cream butter & sugars together in a large mixing bowl. Add eggs and mix well. Add flour, wheat germ, salt and soda - mix well. Stir in oats, then chocolate chips. Shape into 1 inch balls and bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes.

These cookies are delicious. On a personal note, I have cut the sugar back to 3/4 c. white and 3/4 c. brown with pretty much the same results - still yummy!

Enjoy! :)

Thanks, the cookies sound yummy. When you say flour, I am assuming you mean plain, all purpose white flour. I will have to make some of these for New Years Day. Approximately how many will the recipe make?

apples and carrots is what I have to add to this excellent thread.

If you can chomp a raw carrot and a raw apple a day, they both contain soluble fibre (and the other kind) that help reduce cholesterol like oats do.

speaking of oats, I like to cook my porridge in the microwave, a single serving at a time in a bowl, especially now that ds is moved out. dh won't eat porridge and dd is more like him. The ordinary oats, not the super long cooking or super fast. 3 minute or 5 minute kind. :ices_tubb

This morning I had a bowl full of oatmeal (kind that cooks in a few minutes). I added a big handful of frozen blueberries to the water as it boiled. I ended up with purple oatmeal but it was yummy. For lunch I had yogurt with blueberries and a handful of carrots. So far a good fiber day. I went to the library and checked out a bunch of books on fiber and stomach disorders as well.

Paelthom~
Yes, the flour is just plain white flour - not the best, I know, but I've convinced myself that the wheatgerm counteracts any bad effects of the white flour!! The recipe makes about 2 - 3 dozen cookies, depending on how big you make them.

Canadian Gardener, the apple and carrot idea is a good one. Sometimes I forget that the most simple foods are the best for you! Oatmeal is so good for you...but I have a hard time getting my kids to eat it unless it's in a baked good. If anyone is interested, I have a wonderful recipe for blueberry breakfast squares. We stayed at a bed and breakfast a couple years ago and they served these squares for breakfast. No sugar in the recipe, just honey and all good, hearty ingredients....they bake up really easy in a 9 x 13 pan. They are surprisingly good...especially with the maple syrup!!! :bananadan

Let me know if you'd like me to post the recipe...and also...where's the best place to post recipes? I know someone already told me...but I can't remember what forum they said to put it in!

This is a good thread!! I need all the encouragement I can get to eat healthier!

I would love that recipe!!! :sun_smile

I have half a freezer full (ok a little exaggerating going on!) of blueberries that I got a good deal on this summer and I like them because Granny got macular degeneration at 95 and I hope to avoid it. Spinach and blueberries are especially good to prevent that so I am a blueberry maven. :tomato:

Farmgirl, I think this would be the best place to post the recipe. Heck, were talking about what to eat and how to eat healthier and what a better place to be able to find the recipe than right here. Thanks so much for doing this for us, it sure helps. I'm going to be making your cookies in the New Year as soon as I get into the health food store to get some supplies.

I love blueberries too. I eat them frozen, right out of the freezer. I could go alone just on blueberries. Ooooh and the fibre and vitamins in those are amazing.

1 1/4 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 c. wheat germ
Stir above ingredients together in a seperate bowl. In another bowl,
combine the following ingredients: Let set for 2 minutes.
1 c. All Bran Cereal
1 c. buttermilk
1/2 c. water (or orange juice is better)
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. honey
1 T. grated orange rind
1/2 t. cinnamon
1 egg, slightly beaten
Mix dry ingredients with cereal ingredients and spread in a 13x9 baking pan, then prepare blueberry sugar mixture:
1 c. fresh/frozen blueberries
2 T. sugar
Combine and sprinkle on top of batter, bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve with butter, syrup and garnish with finely chopped walnuts.

ENJOY!! Wonderful with a cup of hot :coffee:

Thank you again for the great recipes. This is the type of thing I was hoping for - simple but yummy. I too absolutely love blueberries!

Thanks Farmgirl, I'm going to try these too.

Thanks for sharing the recipes Farmgirl! They both sound wonderful.