While not particularly light in calories (184 per half cup, mashed), avocados can be your BFF. The 17 grams of fats, mostly the healthy kind, keep you satisfied and heck, losing weight isn't always about calories anyway. "A recent study found that people on a high-fiber diet lost just as much weight as people on a calorie-reduced diet," says Zuckerbrot. Spread some on toast for a tasty lunch.
Banana Nut Muffin Quest Bar
How many you should eat: 1 (13 grams)
It tastes like dessert, but this stevia-sweetened protein bar (a favorite of Zuckerbrot) is nutritious enough to eat any time of day and packs 20 grams of protein, too. Pair it with a piece of fruit for a fast and filling breakfast or post-workout bite.
Lentils
How much you should eat: 1/2 cup (l0 grams)
Besides being fiber-rich, these bitty beans are an excellent source of folate, which is most well-known for helping prevent birth defects. Fun fact: folate can also slash your
risk of stroke , and we love getting in a dose with this Immunity Daal recipe.
Edamame
How much you should eat: 1 cup, shelled (8 grams)
Blatner turns to edamame, the popular Asian app, when looking for a salty snack. Stock a bag in your freezer so come mealtime you can toss a handful into soups, salads, or pasta dishes.
Whole-Wheat English Muffin + Peanut Butter
How much you should eat: 1 muffin + 2 tablespoons peanut butter (7 grams)
Skip the doughnut or white bagel and reach for one of Blatner's breakfast staples instead. Despite being full of nooks and crannies, each English muffin supplies more than 4 grams of fiber. For some protein, Zuckerbrot likes to top carbs like crackers and bread with a serving of
heart-healthy peanut butter .
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
How much you should eat: 1 cup, roasted (4 grams)
Steam sprouts for the most fiber-related benefits, as research shows doing so increases the vegetable's ability to bind to bile and send it packing. Scientists discovered that eliminating bile can be linked to a lower risk for heart diseaseand cancer.
Whole-Wheat Pasta + Cherry Tomatoes
How much you should eat: 1 cup + 1 cup (8 grams)
Walk on by, jarred marinara at the grocery store - you're often a sugar bomb disguised as a sauce. Instead, use your noodle(s) and saute fresh cherry tomatoes with a touch of olive oil. In addition to supplying two grams of fiber, the lycopene in tomatoes
may reduce your risk of sun-related skin damage, osteoporosis, and more.
Black Beans
How much you should eat: 1/2 cup (15 grams)
Whole food fiber sources could be considered nature's
diet pill . "Fiber has zero calories and it swells in the stomach, so it adds bulk to a meal or snack to make you feel full quicker," says Zuckerbrot. Take your tasty legume "pills" sprinkled into your salad or mashed and served inside grilled tacos.
Health Warrior Chia Protein Bar
How many you should eat: 1 (5 grams)
These
grab-and-go bars contain cholesterol-lowering (and fiber-heavy) oats, quinoa and chia, which makes this cleaned-up "candy bar" a Blatner-approved
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Quinoa
How much you should eat: 1 cup, cooked (5 grams)
Want to make like this ancient Incan whole grain and have a long life? Add more fiber to your diet. "
A 10-year study of nearly 400,000 people funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found a link between eating a fiber-rich diet and greater longevity," says Zuckerbrot. "Researchers say fiber plays a unique role in reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease, infectious and respiratory disease, and certain cancers." Try these 19 comfort food-inspired ways to enjoy quinoa.
Almonds
How many you should eat: 23 (4 grams)
Go nuts with this snack that
boasts gut-friendly bacteria , too, Blatner notes. "Serve them shaved on top of probiotic yogurt to boost the good bacteria in your stomach," and the one-two punch can help you fight off illnesses.
Boom Chicka Pop Sea Salt Popcorn
How much you should eat: 4 cups (4 grams)
"Popcorn is awesome when you're watching your weight because a high-volume - and high-fiber - serving is low in calories yet very filling," says Zuckerbrot. This
packaged version also comes in cheesy and sweet variations, so you can cater to your craving.
Shredded Wheat Cereal
How much you should eat: 1 cup (9 grams)
Pair this crunchy pick with something sweet and creamy for one of Zuckerbrot's go-to between-meal bites. "High-fiber cereal with nonfat Greek yogurt and berries is a great snack you can reach for again and again," she says.
42.
Pistachios
How many you should eat: 49 (3 grams)
If you're a volume eater or tend to mindlessly eat, pistachios should be your pick. "You get more pieces per serving than with any other nut," says Zuckerbrot. Plus you have to shell the suckers, so it slows down your snacking.
Apples
How many you should eat: 1 medium-sized (4 grams)
Beyond cleaning out your insides with all of that fiber, apples boost tooth strength and saliva production that helps to keep your pearly whites white. Reach for red varieties for the biggest boost to your health.
Baked Potato + Sundried Tomatoes
How much you should eat: 1 medium-sized + 1/2 cup (8 grams)
Surprise! White potatoes can be diet-friendly, as they offer more fiber per gram than whole-wheat cereal,
research shows . And since sundried tomatoes are basically concentrated versions of the vegetables (concentrating the fiber and antioxidants at the same time), Blatner loves tossing them in a variety of Italian recipes.
Jicama Slices
How much you should eat: 1 cup (6 grams)
It looks like a mashup of a potato and a turnip, but tastes more like an apple when served solo. Blatner digs this 50-calorie-per-cup root veggie drizzled with lime juice and a sprinkle of chili powder.
Bob's Red Mill Organic High-Fiber Pancake Mix
How much you should eat: 1 serving (7 grams)
Basic buttermilks don't have too many redeeming nutritional qualities...especially if you drown them in maple syrup. But
this pancake mix , made with whole-wheat, oatmeal, wheat bran and flaxseed, is a nutritious way to start your day. Here are seven tasty ways to add some sass to your short-stack.
Flaxseeds
How much you should eat: 2 tablespoons (4 grams)
Blatner mixes half a spoonful of these versatile seeds with 1 1/2 tablespoons oats and 1 tablespoon peanut butter for a
no-bake energy ball snack . Besides packing a fiber punch in a tiny package, flaxseeds are the
number one dietary source of lignans , polyphenols that may help prevent breast cancer (although more research is needed).
Wasa Fiber Crispbreads + Tribe Swirl Fiery Sriracha Hummus
How much you should eat: 2 crisps + 1/4 cup hummus (7 grams)
New to the
chickpea dip game, this pretty swirled spread incorporates a spicy sriracha topping throughout the entire container so each
whole grain/rye/wheat germ cracker can be topped with a flavorful (and fiber-full) topping. The capsaicin that sriracha contains literally fires things up - it interacts with a protein in our mouths that, in turn, releases endorphins - the same neurotransmitter that's released when you go for a sweaty run or enjoy a blood-pumping rendezvous in the bedroom.
NuGo Slim Brownie Crunch Bar
How many you should eat: 1 (7 grams)
Praise hands emoji for another dessert-flavored fiber fix! "Snacks that are high in fiber and protein, like
this protein bar , help keep blood sugar levels steady so you don't have the energy crash you get from refined carb snacks (like candy bars) that set up sugar cravings," says Zuckerbrot.
Pumpkin Seeds
How much you should eat: 1/2 cup (6 grams)
Making that puree from fresh squash? Don't toss the seeds! A hefty handful packs just as much protein as it does fiber. Spray with a bit of olive oil, sprinkle on your favorite seasonings, and roast for an all-natural nosh.
Carrot Sticks + Salsa
How much you should eat: 1 cup + 2 tablespoons (5 grams)
Feel free to use sticks to scoop up more than the two tablespoons of slightly spicy salsa, like
Newman's Own Black Bean & Corn variety. Each serving has just 20 calories and two grams of fiber. Plus, new research shows eating fiery foods might naturally make you eat a bit less overall.
Wholly Guacamole + Way Better Black Bean Tortilla Chips
Normally, "I'm not a big fan of 100-calorie snack packs because they leave you hungry," says Zuckerbrot. But this guilt-free guac is an exception since it's not just empty carb calories. The bean chips offer even more healthy fats to go along with the avocado's monounsaturated goodness.
Cinnamon Raisin Fiber d'Lish Bar
How many you should eat: 1 (12 grams)
This all-natural,
cookie-like snack comes in at just 130 calories. Eat one plain or crumble on top of your Greek yogurt for more muscle-building, hunger-satisfying protein too.
Greek Yogurt + Cherries + Flaxseed
How much you should eat: 1 cup + 1 cup + 1 tablespoon (5 grams)
Start your day with this well-balanced parfait. "Eating meals and snacks rich in fiber, like this trio, digest slowly and provide prolonged energy and stabilize blood sugar levels," says Zuckerbrot. Refined foods (think fruit on the bottom yogurt or sugary cereals) digest faster, causing more highs and lows than an episode of Bachelor in Paradise.
La Tortilla Factory Low Carb, High Fiber Whole-Wheat Large Tortilla
How many you should eat: 1 (12 grams)
Wrap up half of your daily fiber needs in one fell swoop. Oat fiber, which is 90 percent fiber, is the second ingredient on the label of
these tortillas , right after water. Try 'em as part of our Easy Chicken-Rice Burritos - you won't regret it.
Justin's Maple Almond Butter + Gluten-Free Pretzels Snack Pack
How many you should eat: 1 (4 grams)
When you need an easy, travel-friendly snack, opt for Justin's gluten- and preservative-free
snack packs - the pretzel sticks provide some much-needed crunch (plus they're just fun) while the maple almond butter gives a quick hit of healthy fats and protein to help keep you full.
Mangoes
How many you should eat: 1 (5 grams)
If you need an excuse to devour a ridiculously sweet and juicy mango, here it is, because the tropical fruit is packed with fiber. Cut some up for a snack, or add it into your morning smoothie. Just don't go overboard - while mango is high in fiber, it's also high in sugar at 46 g per fruit.
How many you should eat: 3 (3 grams)
The thought of eating prunes can be scary, but they're not just for grandmas. Prunes are known for their ability to help relieve constipation, as well as being a tasty fiber-packed snack. It only takes a few to keep your digestive system running smoothly.
Kidney Beans
How much you should eat: 1/2 cup (23 grams)