Do-it-yourself fiber

Written by Rachel Berman   

Fiber is all the rage right now. It’s being added to foods it was never in before and talked about like it’s the rock star of the nutrition world —and with good reason. Fiber — the indigestible part of a carbohydrate that’s an essential component of every diet — keeps your hunger at bay for hours, can lower cholesterol levels, control blood sugar levels in people with diabetes, and even help reduce the risk of certain kinds of cancer. Our founder, Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, was the first one to put fiber in focus when she published The F-Factor Diet in 2007 — and now its qualities are really in the spotlight.

But don’t rely on companies to add fiber to your food for you. Do it yourself with GG Bran Crispbread Sprinkles. You’ll get an extra dose of genuine, all-natural fiber and, since it’s in flake form, you’ll also get that crunchy satisfaction that doesn’t come in most fiber-fortified products.

GG Sprinkles are very low in calories and are 85% pure bran, which has the highest percentage of fiber per serving of any grain. The Sprinkles contain only unprocessed wheat bran, rye flour, and a little bit of salt (30 mg sodium per serving), meaning 3 tablespoons have 12 calories, 7 grams of carbohydrate, and 5 grams of fiber — the best carbohydrate-to-fiber ratio you’ll find.

How can you use them? Let me count the ways! Substitute Sprinkles in any meal you would normally prepare with breadcrumbs. Try mixing them into your yogurt in the morning rather than cereal (while you’re at it, add some berries for a filling, nutritious breakfast at under 200 calories). You can also add Sprinkles to salads for a little crunch, to smoothies for added fiber, and to a fruit crumble dessert to reduce saturated fat content.

GG Bran Crispbread Sprinkles, brancrispbread.com

Tanya’s Tip: Besides keeping hunger at bay, fiber also helps regulate your system. So if you’re feeling clogged or bloated, try incorporating Sprinkles into your food and drinking plenty of water — you’ll be regular in no time.

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Skinny Contest: Have a creative idea for using GG Bran Crispbread Sprinkles in your everyday food? We want to hear it! Send an email to contests@skinnyandthecity.com by Tuesday, May 12 at 5 p.m. EST, and our favorite response will win a case.