90% of Americans don’t get enough fiber so chances are you have at least one patient following a high fiber diet plan. In this article, the in-house RD for gut health brand, NB Pure, shares five simple strategies dietitians can use to help clients to boost dietary fiber intake.
(Disclosure: the author is an employee of NBPure, an RD Link client, however, this article was not sponsored by NB Pure).
by Thomas Smurr, RD
Tom is the education manager at NBPure and has been a dietitian since 2014. With prior experience at Factor_ and Vital Proteins, his expertise focuses on modern nutritional support using real food and natural supplements to promote wellness from the inside out.
Fiber is the under-appreciated nutrient we all need more of – yet most Americans are missing the mark on a high fiber diet plan. While protein dominates nutrition headlines and supplement shelves, fiber remains one of the most overlooked components of a healthy diet, despite its profound effects on digestion, weight management, and chronic disease prevention.
As Registered Dietitians, we know the importance of fiber, but the challenge is getting clients to make it a priority. Here’s how we can help change that.
👉The Fiber Crisis: Why We Should Be Paying Attention
We’re at a crisis point in our health when it comes to fiber. Everyone needs 25 to 30 grams of fiber per day for gut health and for optimal wellness, but 90% of Americans are not getting enough.
This lack of fiber is so concerning that it’s been identified as a “Public Health Concern” by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans—alongside calcium, potassium, and vitamin D.
👉 Common Issues Linked to Low Fiber Intake
- Chronic constipation, which may also be triggered by some GLP-1 protocols
- Blood sugar imbalances
- Elevated cholesterol
- Weight management difficulties
- Microbiome imbalance
While we RDs recognize the urgency, the real hurdle lies in making fiber more accessible and appealing to clients.
✨Changing the Fiber Narrative: From “Grandma’s Supplement” to Everyday Essential
Fiber supplements have traditionally been considered “grandma’s supplement”. That stigma needs to change. Younger generations need easy, modern ways to add fiber to their diets along with key nutritional education on whole food solutions.
3 RD-Approved Ways to Boost Fiber Intake
1. Promote Fiber-Powered Smoothies🍓🍌🥬
Smoothies are a practical solution for increasing daily fiber—especially for clients who struggle with consuming enough fruits and vegetables. Plus, smoothies are popular on social media. Tapping this trend can help encourage a fiber boost.
Fiber-rich ways to build smoothies using:
- Fresh or frozen fruits (berries, bananas, mangos, peaches, cherries)
- Leafy greens (spinach, kale)
- Ground flaxseed or pre-soaked chia seeds
- Avocados and dates
- Supplemental fibers
2. Recommend a Daily Fiber Supplement 🥛
When clients need a simple, effective way to close the fiber gap, fiber supplements are the way to go.
NBPure, the gut-first supplement company where I’m Education Manager, has formulated a Daily Multi-Fiber with 4 grams of soluble and insoluble fiber per heaping teaspoon. We recommend gradually working up to taking it three times daily for optimal benefits. On top of this, it’s also formulated with probiotics (1B CFU per scoop). These are all reasons Daily Multi-Fiber is the 2nd Step in NBPure’s Gut Health Journey™ protocol, designed to help support a healthy gut microbiome.
Not everyone will need a fiber supplement, but those experiencing gut immobility, constipation, or diarrhea could benefit from finding a more regular diet containing fiber. Those wanting to maintain weight and heart health will find value in soluble fiber as well.
3. Start Slow and Incrementally Build Daily Intake 🌾
When I speak with clients, many fear fiber because it certainly can cause digestive discomfort if someone isn’t used to taking fiber daily. Fiber can certainly lead to bloating, indigestion, and cramping if it’s not increased gradually.
Most of the time, education is around getting the recommended dose (25-30g/day). Immediately taking in 30g to start a new fiber regimen is going to HURT. Instead, make sure to recommend a slow start and build from there.
4. Pair snacks and items with a fiber
Instead of cutting out foods or only choosing fiber options, opt for a combination. I always think of dips! There is guacamole or avocado, hummus of all flavors, and bean salsa in my home. These all fit easily into a high fiber diet plan.
Get creative with clients by finding easy-to-combine options they are already eating and add in fiber.
5. Start reading labels
Yes, this one is maybe a bit more obvious, but it is truly amazing how good the industry has become at hiding fiber in our favorite items! Just the other day I had a canned coffee latte product that had 5g of fiber from acacia. I would have never known until I read the label!
Make sure to include a brief visit to the label and ingredients as a review with your clients to explain what to look for and what to avoid (based on the client).
Recommendations on getting more daily fiber:
- Add a whole grain at breakfast like oatmeal or chia for a week
- Use supplemental fiber: start at 4g daily for a week, then move to 8g, etc.
- Swap a fiber option in at a meal (i.e., wild rice instead of white, broccoli instead of peas)
- Keep note of which fibers are easy to digest. No need to force high-fiber foods that don’t agree with your client. A FODMAP chart can help here.
Help Close the Fiber Gap in America With a High Fiber Diet Plan
As dietitians, we’re in a unique position to educate and empower. By simplifying fiber intake strategies and reframing the conversation around a high fiber diet plan, we can help clients take meaningful steps toward better gut health and long-term wellness.
To help address the fiber gap, gut health brand, NBPure, has developed 3 versions of Daily Multi-Fiber to cater to different taste preferences, including: Unflavored, Coconut Lime, and Savory Mocha . It is also available in convenient single-serving packets—perfect for on-the-go clients.
If you’re interested in:
- Samples of NBPure’s Daily Multi-Fiber or Gut Health Journey™ protocol
- Collaborating with NBPure as a dietitian partner
- Talking with me about nutrition or NBPure products
👉 Reach out to NBPure on The RD Link to learn more and connect!
👉Follow NBPure on Instagram at @nbpure to stay in the loop
Don’t have an RD Link profile yet? Learn more and create your’s here. Accounts are FREE for registered dietitians and RDs to be!