Maybe it should be higher on your priority list. Canadian children get less than half of the fibre they need and this low intake can lead to health problems. The good news is that increasing fibre intake can be easy. Read on to learn how to add more to your child's diet. Then get back to that pesky math assignment!
Fibre for health
High-fibre foods such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans help promote regularity and combat constipation. If your kids often complain about hard or painful stools, they're probably not getting enough fibre.
Beyond bathroom habits, fibre may also help prevent obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. While these conditions sound unlikely for children, the reality is that kids are being diagnosed with these 'adult' types of disease at an earlier age.
Fibre intake too low
Statistics show that four- to eight-year-old Canadian children get 13 grams of fibre each day, but need 25 grams. The same low intake is seen across all age groups. Use this chart to determine how much fibre your children need:
| Age | Gender | Amount of fibre needed per day |
| 1 - 3 | Male and female | 19 grams |
| 4 - 8 | Male and female | 25 grams |
| 9 - 13 | Male | 31 grams |
| 9 - 13 | Female | 26 grams |
| 14 - 19 | Male | 38 grams |
| 14 - 19 | Female | 26 grams |
Page 1 of 2 – Discover easy ways to improve your child's fibre intake on page 2
