Fibre in the diet.

fiscalfreckles

I'm trying to help my elderly in laws who have been advised to increase the fibre in their diet for health reasons. MIL in particular has v.high cholesterol.

I've convinced them to have more veg with their meals, and have suggested they have wholemeal bread, but they have said they simply don't like breakfast cereals, wholegrain rice or pasta.

Any other suggestions?

They are not great cooks really, so the simpler the better.

tanith

Porridge may help with lowering cholesterol and there are some products on the market, though expensive that are said to also be useful to reduce cholesterol. Extra fruit too would be good. Beans of any type could be incorporated in stews, casseroles and spaghetti sauces..

ema_o

We buy white & wholemeal pasta, I think its by seeds of change - I find this tastes much better than the wholemeal on its own. Its not cheap but might be worth a try.
Have they tried brown rice, I have to say most people I know buy white, but if they visit me I cook brown & they enjoy it, it doesn't taste much different when its covered in sauce!
What sort of things do they eat normally, that might make it easier to suggest things that are just as easy to cook?

fiscalfreckles

TBH,they have a lot of ready meals and pies etc, things they can just bung in the oven. Not very healthy, but easy for them. They sometimes have a chop or piece of chicken

They do cook fresh veg & potatoes with most things though, and they cook a roast dinner at weekends.

They do like rice & pasta, but are convinced they don't like the wholegrain stuff. But with things in sauce, I'm sure you are right and they could stomach it! think they've got out of the habit of cooking it from scratch though, they buy it now as ready prep'd stuff.

I think I'm going to have to produce some "left over" casseroles & stews,with beans & pulses in. Would barley be good? And pasta bakes.

voiceofreason

Hmmm - what about a simple baked potato? Nutritious, cheap, and packed with fibre (especially if you eat the jacket!) - and importantly, it's nothing an elderly person'll be unfamiliar with

Perhaps also oatcakes as a snack occasionally - full of good, fibre-rich oatbran.

Good luck!

chika

Not very money saving but could they take benefiber? I bought some when I was on the cambridge diet and things weren't moving (sorry for the TMI) and its great, you just put a spoonful in water or squash and you can't taste or see it.

Also could they eat potatoes with the skin on, wholemeal pasta doesn't taste that different to the white stuff and its much better, also could they use 50/50 bread, its a good comprimise .

Farway

I 'll add to voiceofreason option of baked potato by adding a filling of baked beans, both easy, convenient and packed full of fibre

pigpen

New potatoes with the skins left on.
pulses/lentils/beans.. just a handful chucked in a soup or stew
fruits.. all are good those with edible seeds are best.. kiwi's, strawberries, tomatoes, or just a sprinkling of seeds over a salad

brown bread alone isn't good enough it has to be wholegrain.. this has the outer 'shells' of the grains included which contain the fibre.