The best high-fiber breakfast foods

Kickstart your day with fiber-rich foods that benefit your gut microbes and promote all kinds of health benefits.

July 12, 2022
The best high-fiber breakfast foods

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that a healthy adult eat 28 grams (g) of fiber each day. However, less than 10% of the population meets this recommended daily fiber intake. The health benefits of eating fiber cannot be understated, as studies have shown that eating the recommended amount significantly reduces all-cause mortality — so it’s clear that we can benefit from getting more of it. But that might be easier said than done, especially at breakfast time. With a typical Western breakfast consisting of pancakes, eggs and meats, high-fiber foods are often placed on the back burner. And yet, with so many fiber-rich foods available to eat for breakfast, skimping on your morning fiber consumption is a missed opportunity. Here’s a guide to understanding the best high fiber breakfast foods, the benefits of fiber at breakfast, and delicious ways to change up your menu options to enjoy a healthier life.

And if you need a high fiber supplement to help, consider using Eden's synbiotic supplement, a 3-in-1 superblend of prebiotics, probiotics and polyphenols, delivering high-quality, high-fiber nutrition to start your day off right.

What is fiber?

Most fibers are prebiotics, which are compounds that humans cannot digest. Instead, your gut microbes ferment them to provide benefits for themselves and your body. Two classes of fibers exist. Soluble fibers dissolve in water and provide nutrition for your gut microbes to grow. Insoluble fibers cannot dissolve in water, instead bulking up your stool to maintain healthy bowel movements and prevent diarrhea and constipation. Eating fibers provides a great way to keep your gut healthy and maintain your metabolic health.

The health benefits of fiber

The two classes of fiber provide distinct benefits for your body. Although many kinds of fibers exist within these classes, all of them provide diverse health benefits that protect against multiple diseases. Having more fiber in your diet reduces the mortality risk from colorectal cancer (CRC) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). For metabolic diseases, increasing dietary fiber intake also promotes weight loss and dietary adherence, mitigating the risk of obesity. Foods rich in fiber — including fruits and vegetables, nuts and beans, and whole-wheat bread — also tend to have lower Glycemic Index (GI) scores, which means that these foods do not raise your blood glucose levels as much as other foods, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D).

What breakfast foods are high in fiber?

Many of the foods richest in dietary fiber can be obtained during the first meal of your day. These are the best high fiber breakfast foods:

  • Fruits contain an abundant mix of soluble and insoluble fibers. Citrus fruits, in particular, are an excellent source of soluble fibers. A small orange contains 2.3 g of fiber. Lemons also contain a form of hard-to-digest pectin that your gut microbes, such as B. thetaiotaomicron (a species commonly found in your guts), can digest. Consider finding a recipe for a fruit bowl that you can eat for breakfast. A fruit parfait is also a great way to integrate fruits and yogurt into your breakfast!
  • Granola is a great snack or breakfast option if you want a mix of different ingredients for breakfast. A 2018 triple-blind, placebo-controlled intervention study performed on 55 obese or overweight adults showed that adults who replaced their daily snacks with an oligofructose granola bar saw reduced appetite, but not in other weight-based metrics. With obesity being an important risk factor for T2D, the ability to reduce appetite and caloric intake could provide long-term benefits in metabolic health. The healthiest granolas are made of whole grains, nuts and dried fruits. Be aware, however, that many granola formulations contain sweeteners and saturated fats that negate the benefits of eating its fibers. Granola bars are also calorie-dense, so if you are concerned about weight gain, finding an alternative to granola bars or making homemade granola/granola bars would be a good idea.

  • Bread types abound, and white bread isn’t the only breakfast option. Many kinds of breads provide a rich source of fiber and other nutrients such as protein, zinc, phosphorus, omega-3s and essential vitamins. Whole-wheat bread, Ezekiel bread, sourdough, and other kinds of bread provide much more fiber than white bread. Plus, these breads are great alternatives for people who require a gluten-free diet because of their lower or nonexistent gluten levels. 

You don’t have to exclude other kinds of food when seeking to meet your daily fiber intake at breakfast. Certain foods in the dairy group provide distinct benefits that complement fiber-rich foods in reducing T2D risk. 

Having high-fiber foods for breakfast does not prevent you from enjoying quality proteins, either. Proteins provide a means to build up muscles and maintain health for active males and females, and are especially important for post-menopausal women.

  • Eggs provide an excellent source of protein for breakfast. 

  • Smoked salmon can also be a delicious option, and additionally is a great source of heart-healthy omega-3s

  • Plant-based sources of protein are another good way to get the protein you need to start your day. 

  • Beans and nuts will provide you with both a good quantity of protein as well as fiber.

Key takeaways

The vast majority of adults don’t consume enough fiber, which is essential for keeping your whole body healthy and your gut microbes growing. With so many high-fiber food options available, even at breakfast you can start your day off by getting the fiber you need with the best high fiber breakfast foods. Begin by adding more fruits and vegetables into your meal, like making a vegetable-rich omelette or a fruit bowl. Then consider adding yogurt to keep your gut microbiome active and healthy, topped with some fiber-rich grains or nuts. Finally, consider integrating plant-based sources of protein or enjoy a sunny-side up egg with the rest of your fiber-packed breakfast.

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