Fiber is an important part of the human diet, and according to the USDA’s Choose My Plate. Gov (www.choosemyplate.gov/MyPlate): 

“Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as some vegetables and fruits, may reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Consuming foods containing fiber, such as whole grains, as part of a healthy diet, may reduce constipation.”

 A rehabilitation house for men in Jefferson County participated in the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program through the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. The program, Eating Healthy for Everybody, was offered, and one of the lessons taught was MY Plate for Everybody. 

In that lesson, the men were informed how much of each food group should be consumed to achieve the maximum health benefits. The proper amounts of fiber could be achieved by making half the plate fruits and vegetables and a quarter of the plate grains, half of which should be whole grains. The different types of fiber were discussed and the health benefits of a diet rich in fiber. The SNAP-Education Assistant, with the help of some of the participants, prepared a Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry with Whole Grain Rice for the group to sample. The SNAP-Education Assistant posed the question “What would make this a complete My Plate Meal?” and one of the men suggested fresh fruit with yogurt, while another suggested a side of apple sauce and a glass of low fat milk. Both examples were correct. 

Fifteen Men graduated from the class and the data from the exit survey showed a 60% positive change in eating more whole grains; a 53% positive change in eating more fruits, and a 67% change in eating more vegetables to show an increase of the daily allowance of fiber of 15.9 grams ( entry survey) to 31.7 grams (exit survey).