SPECIAL PROJECT
Focus on Fiber
Balanced's Focus on Fiber Campaign seeks to spread awareness and inspire action to elevate fiber to the forefront of nutrition conversations! Our campaign is divided into two main components:
Public Awareness
Changing fiber’s perception - amplifying its benefits and encouraging its consumption.
increased support
Advocacy
Calling on USDA to add fiber to school meal guidelines so children have access to healthier school meals
improved access
Watch here to learn more about fiber!
Our series of educational videos covers everything you need to know about fiber, from its health benefits to practical tips on increasing your fiber intake. Watch here and check out our Instagram @thebalancedorg for additional fiber content!
WHY FIBER?
Gut Health
The impact of fiber on gut microbiota composition, as well as the fermentation byproducts, are thought to play a key role in dietary fiber’s numerous health benefits and protections against disease.
Disease Prevention
Fiber inadequacy may be linked with allergic and autoimmune disorders, constipation and bowel diseases, type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even certain cancers.
Health Benefits
Positive health outcomes associated with dietary fiber include favorable cardiometabolic effects and higher micronutrient intakes.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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Grains are the number one source of dietary fiber in school meals and account for over half of all fiber on the lunch tray.
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Grains in school meals are often ultra-processed and contain more added sugar, saturated fat, and sodium. Pastries alone accounted for 17% of total fiber, or roughly one-third of the fiber attributed to grains!
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Making space for fiber-dense foods requires, to some degree, a reduction in the reliance on foods and beverages containing little to no fiber.
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Highest impact interventions should be focused on diversifying proteins and increasing naturally occurring plant-based fiber.
POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS
The federal school meals programs have an important role to play in ensuring millions of students have access and opportunity to consume adequate dietary fiber. Nearly all school-aged children are not meeting dietary fiber recommendations. Many children are eating two out of three meals at school each day, with an average of 22.6 million children eating school lunch and 12.4 million children consuming breakfast daily in Fiscal Year 2020. Thus, potential policy interventions could significantly impact the health of children across the U.S.
Two main policy approaches within the context of the USDA School Nutrition Programs stand out to address the apparent gap between recommended and actual fiber intakes. Policy Alternative 1 would impose a minimum daily and weekly dietary fiber requirement, while Policy Alternative 2 would strengthen existing meal pattern requirements for whole grains, fruits, legumes, and vegetables to improve dietary fiber offerings in school meals.