Fiber does more than make your bowel movements regular. Dietary fiber may also lower your cholesterol, control blood sugar and aid in weight loss by making you feel full faster and longer, according to MayoClinic.com. A high-fiber dinner allows you to reap the benefits of dietary fiber. Fiber-rich meals that taste good make it easier to consume fiber on a regular basis.
Soup
Having soup for dinner allows you to add your favorite high-fiber ingredients while customizing the dish to fit your family's taste preferences. You can also base your soup on the ingredients you have on hand. A broth-based soup is a healthy option because it omits much of the fat present in cream and cheese-based soups. Vegetables are a source of fiber that fits well into soup. Examples of vegetables to include are broccoli, corn, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes. For more fiber, add grains to the soup. Barley, brown rice or whole wheat pasta are suitable options that work well in a vegetable soup. Legumes, such as split peas, lentils and black beans, are also high in fiber, according to MayoClinic.com. The legumes offer more substance to a soup while increasing the fiber content. Serve a side of whole grain bread for even more fiber.
Baked Potato and Salad
A medium baked potato with the skin contains 2.9 grams of fiber, according to MayoClinic.com. When paired with a salad, the baked potato works well as a high-fiber meal. To increase the fiber of the baked potato, top it with broccoli and cheese, beans, salsa or other high-fiber foods.
The salad leaves room for additional fiber with different vegetables on top. Corn, broccoli, sugar snap peas and carrots are a few examples of fiber-containing vegetables that work well on a salad. Beans or whole wheat pasta also go well on top of a green salad.
Roasted Veggies on Grains
Roasting vegetables adds more flavor than steaming or boiling. Cut up your favorite vegetables, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash and carrots, to roast. Toss the vegetables with a healthy drizzle of olive oil and season them with salt, pepper and your other favorite seasonings. Allrecipes.com recommends thyme and rosemary, along with a little balsamic vinegar to taste. Cook the vegetables at 475 degrees for about 35 to 40 minutes. Stir the vegetables every 10 or 15 minutes so they brown evenly. Serve the roasted vegetable on a bed of grains, such as barley or brown rice, for additional fiber.
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