The Importance of High Fibre Foods


Since becoming a mother, I’ve certainly been more vigilant about my husband and my diet – and obviously Bub’s – as I want us to have the best chance at longevity and health! Eating a plant based diet has many, many health benefits; you eat a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and wholegrains which include a multitude of vitamins, minerals and plant based calcium and iron. And one thing there’s no doubt that we consume is fibre. High fibre foods help you feel fuller for longer, help prevent diabetes by slowing glucose entering the bloodstream, help prevent constipation and can help maintain a healthy weight. Here’s 7 high fibre foods you can easily eat every day to reap all the benefits!

One of my favourite vegetables is beetroot. And Bub loves them too. The sweetness and earthiness are unparalleled and lend themselves well to both sweet and savoury dishes. And as an added bonus, they’re super high in fibre! They’re also a rich source of iron, manganese, copper, potassium, and magnesium – all of which have their individual benefits in the body. Cooked or raw beets have terrific benefits – one of them being the ability to prevent cancer. We love them roasted – wrapped in foil and baked, or diced and tossed in balsamic vinegar are our favourites.

avo soup

The benefits of beetroot are many, and we easily eat a large bunch each week. We keep the stalks and leaves and eat them too – so many people forget about the leaves! We call them Beet Greens. I love them sautéed with some salt and lemon, and put it on a slice of sourdough, or made into a soup.

To make the leaves and stalk into a soup, simply sauté one onion in some olive oil, add 2 diced zucchini and the diced stalks and sauté until soft – about ten minutes. Add 3 cups of water, and your beetroot greens (ideally 2-3 cups worth). I also like to add a cup of kale or spinach in. Allow to cook for 15-20 minutes or until the greens are tender and well cooked. Blend well until smooth and creamy, even adding an avocado to boost the healthy fats. Season with salt, pepper and a big squeeze of lemon. Top it off with some chilli, pumpkin seeds and any fresh herbs you like. Yum! Beet greens are packed with fibre and protein. They also contain vitamin K and calcium.

 

I’ve grown my own before – both standard and heirloom varieties – and they’re so hardy and simple to grow. The taste of your home grown vegetables is like nothing else, and if your soil is healthy then you’ll be getting maximum nutrients.

If you can’t grow your own, investing in organic produce is the way to go. You’ll be helping out local farmers, avoiding nasty pesticides, helping the environment and also be doing your body a favour.  

Here’s another 4 beetroot recipes to boost your health that the whole family will enjoy.

To up your fibre in general here are some great recipes for you to try!

https://vegiehead.com/31-wasy-to-top-your-porridge/

https://vegiehead.com/recipes/sweet-potato-smoothie/