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Food trends are fun to follow, and if you do a little digging, there’s almost always a smart hack to make even the most indulgent foods healthier! Last week we explored the latest sharable trend, Butter Boards, and created The just better.® Board! This week, we’re exploring two more TikTok famous food trends! Our hope is to inspire you to discover new and exciting ways to explore a wide variety of healthy foods.  Lemon Pasta We already love this food trend because it combines fresh citrus flavors with savory herbs. YUM!! If you want to add a healthier twist to this dish, you’ve come to the right place!  If you’re cutting back on ingredients like pasta, try swapping it out for a healthier option like zucchini or sweet potato spirals. OMGosh, it’s so good! Veggie spirals give this trendy dish a new life with fewer carbs and more fiber! This is a simple whole food dish that anyone can make!  You can find a plethora of variations of Lemon Garlic Pasta on Google, but we liked the simple versions using fresh lemon, garlic, rosemary, basil, and some olive oil. **Chef’s kiss!** Don’t forget to stir in 2 Tablespoons of just better.® fiber at any stage of preparation! (We really do make it easy to get enough fiber in your life!)  Avocado-Jicama-Hashed-Brown Toast Starting your day right with a balanced breakfast is a great way to set the tone for the rest of the day. This breakfast trend sounds delicious, but it might not align with your dietary goals.  Skipping the bread but replacing it with other processed foods like prepackaged hashed browns doesn’t make this trend a healthier option to traditional avocado toast.  Our best suggestion for making this dish just better.® is to skip the prepackaged frozen potato patties and opt for freshly shredded jicama hash browns. This is a lower-carb alternative with an added fiber boost to keep you feeling fuller longer!  Here’s how: Peel large jicama  Shred with a cheese grater or food processor Sprinkle with salt, place in a mesh strainer, and set aside to drain (about 10 minutes) Squeeze out excess water - DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP!! Beat 2 large eggs with salt, pepper, herbs & spices of your choice Add ¼ to ⅓ Cup of just better.® fiber, depending on how much you’re making.  — Once you have squeezed out all the excess water from the jicama, combine the egg and just better.® fiber mixture with the shredded jicama.  — Form into patties and place them in a 300° air fryer for 20 minutes on each side. (Adjust the temperature and time to your specific device.)  These patties can also be baked in the oven or fried in light oil.  When baking, we suggest using a silicone mat or parchment paper to avoid sticking.  WARNING: Make extra, or you’ll cry like we did when they were all gone!  Once your patties are cooked, top them with sliced avocado, a poached egg, and diced green onion!  What have been some of your favorite food trends, and how have you made them just better.®? Let us know!   

Part of every healthy living journey is relearning how to prepare food in a more balanced way. It can sometimes feel restrictive if you enjoy following the latest food trends.  But if you change your perspective, it can be a fun challenge!  You might have heard about the most recent TikTok and Insta craze, Butter Boards! They are a hot take on the popular charcuterie board, but instead of hard cheeses and meats, a generous layer of softened butter covers the board with added toppings like caramelized onions, herbs, nuts, or fruit. They look beautiful and seem fun to serve.  But is it healthy to eat that much butter at once?  Butter, in moderation, is OK for some people, but a spread like that has a lot of saturated fat. This kind of fat can increase your cholesterol and interfere with your health goals.  We didn’t want to miss out on this lovely way to present fresh food, so we did some digging and discovered a fun swap with lower saturated fat. Replace the butter with ricotta cheese.   Ricotta cheese is high in calcium and protein. It also has all nine essential amino acids. Ricotta cheese is just as versatile as butter because it easily takes on sweet or savory flavor notes.  We tried a whipped ricotta spread recipe and added a few tablespoons of just better.® fiber to our mixture for a healthy fiber boost!  Introducing… The just better.® Board!  It’s super easy to make a whipped ricotta spread! We have left this open for interpretation because sometimes we feel a little sweet, and sometimes we feel a little savory, right?! ;) Start with a large container of high-quality Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese.  Add your favorite herbs and spices to taste.  Add 2 to 4 Tablespoons of just better.® fiber.  Use a hand mixer or food processor to whip up your ingredients. Be careful not to over-mix!  Spread a generous layer of this mixture over a clean and safely sanitized charcuterie board. Sprinkle on toppings like chopped pistachios and fresh herbs, diced veggies, or fruit.  Place spreading utensils nearby.   Serve with cucumber, apple, and whole-grain bread slices. -- Following food trends and creating healthy hacks around them is a fun way to explore food in a new and exciting way! Healthy living should not feel restrictive or limiting; open the door to new experiences and get creative!  Be sure to catch next week’s blog, part two of our 2-part series, ‘Insta-Worthy Food Trends… just better.®‘! We’re taking on Lemon Pasta and Avocado Hash Brown Toast!  High-fiber cooking is easier than ever with our just better.® fiber bundles.  just better.® fiber dissolves completely. No taste/flavor.  And NO GRIT!  It’s super easy to incorporate into your favorite recipes undetected.  And, just better.® fiber is a healthy baker’s BFF because it is an all-natural sugar swap. Replace half the sugar with just better.® fiber for a low-sugar, high-fiber take when baking.  Do you have questions about cooking with just better.® fiber? Reach out to us anytime! info@justbetterfiber.com

Breast cancer risk reduction is very important to us here at just better.® fiber! 

Many of our just better.® fans have discovered that our fiber works wonders on their dogs and cats who need a little help with their gut health and/or weight management. 

 Q: Can I get dehydrated during cooler weather?  A: Yes! Dehydration risks don’t just happen during the hot summer months; dehydration can happen any time of year, under any type of weather.  Here’s a surprising tidbit: An estimated 75% of Americans may be functioning in a chronic state of dehydration. YIKES!  Are you in a chronic state of dehydration?  To know for sure, you must track how much water you drink daily.    Q: How much water do we really need?  A: A good rule of thumb to ensure adequate hydration intake is to determine half your body weight in ounces. For example, a person weighing 150 pounds should drink at least 75 ounces of water daily.  Q: What are the signs of dehydration?  A: It’s important to remember that the symptoms of dehydration can be tricky! They may show up disguised as hunger, headaches, muscle cramps, dizziness, fatigue, and even anxiety.  Next time you’re hungry between meals, feel a bit off or get that twinge of uneasiness, try drinking some water! —⫸ It sounds so simple, and it is. ⫷— Q: Why is it so important to stay hydrated?  A: For the body to digest and absorb vitamins and nutrients, it must have water! It is essential for healthy digestion, and water helps detoxify the kidneys and liver while moving waste out of the body.  As you can see, if you’re not hydrated, these vital systems don’t work the way they should, and you end up feeling like crap. And we don’t want that!  —⫸ Want to take control of your hydration? Do your math homework: What’s half your body weight in ounces?! Set your goal. Start your day with a full glass of water. Schedule hydration breaks throughout the day. Remember to drink water when you start to feel fatigued or hungry!  Q: So, how does it feel to be adequately hydrated?  A: This question is super important because people who took control of their hydration say they feel amazing! They report feeling healthier, more refreshed, less hungry, and with clearer skin! How does that sound to you?  —⫸ Are you ready to take control of your hydration and feel just better.®? Here’s an added challenge for you! Conquer your hydration goals AND your fiber intake goals at the same time with just better.® fiber!  just better.®  fiber dissolves completely. No taste/flavor.  And NO GRIT! (Or embarrassing side effects!) Simply add 1 or 2 Tablespoons of just better.® fiber to your water bottle to hydrate and fiber up / slim down!  Bottoms up! YOU CAN DO IT! 

We went on the hunt to discover and create tantalizing concoctions that are sure to WOW your party guests and warm your bones on a chilly autumn evening! Of course, we had to jazz things up with a boost of fiber because even witches, ghosts, and goblins need happy guts! 

Don’t say goodbye to National Fruits & Vegetables Month because September is coming to a close! In a recent email, we challenged all of our just better.®  fiber fans to try a “New to You” fruit and veggie each week this Fall. The season brings a bounty of fiber-rich, nutrient-dense produce to experiment with and enjoy!  Fresh produce is always the very best way to get the fiber your body needs. Our founder, Kristin Hirano, a registered dietitian, says that EVERY snack and meal should include at least ONE whole, unprocessed food derived from plants.  Fiber Tip: Kristin suggests adopting a “Plant-Food First” strategy.  Eat your fruits and vegetables before your protein and carbohydrates. Doing this helps you to fill up on fiber-rich foods!   The benefits of eating more fresh fruits and vegetables are endless. Topping the list is their nutrient content. Fresh produce is an excellent source of vitamins & minerals, and they are our best source of fiber!    You might be wondering if cooking veggies makes them lose their nutrient content. Well, that depends! Boiling vegetables for a long time does reduce their nutrient density by about 50%. Steaming, roasting, grilling, and stir-frying are better methods of cooking vegetables if you want to retain the most nutrients.   Fun Fact:  Grilling vegetables is considered one of the best ways to preserve nutrient density! Avoid charring your veggies by using indirect heat. A grilling tray works great!   We suggest keeping an open mind when trying new fruits and veggies, expanding your palette one step at a time. If your local grocery store keeps only the basics on hand, you might need to look a little harder to find more variety. Look up your local Asian and Hispanic markets to find rare and exotic produce!  Not sure what to look for? Here are a few ideas! Daikon  Daikon is a root vegetable that is commonly used in Japanese cuisine. Similar to radishes, they have a crispy texture, and a mild flavor, with a peppery bite. Where to look: Many Asian Markets stock this root veggie! Thai Eggplant  These eggplants aren’t the purple ones at your local grocery store; they’re much smaller, round, and light green. Enjoy Thai Eggplant raw with a spicy dip, or add them to a healthy salad. Try them grilled or tossed in with a stir-fry! Where to look: Many Asian Markets carry this type of eggplant.  Cherimoya  Cherimoya is also known as the “Custard Apple” and has been touted as the most delicious fruit ever! Want to be the judge of that? We hope you find some and tell us all about it!  Where to look: Stop into your local Hispanic Market for this exciting fruit!  Jicama Jicama contains a type of prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. There are lots of ways to enjoy jicama! Jicama is super tasty, and it has the texture of a crisp apple! Eat it raw with a dip or incorporate it into salads and stir-fries.  Where to look: Hispanic Markets are sure to stock this root veggie, and since its rise in popularity, it can often be found in your grocer’s produce department.  These are just a few ideas of exotic and rare fruits & vegetables available if you do a little looking around. Are you up for the adventure?  Join our mailing list and get the inside scoop for a high-fiber life!      

The vast majority of North Americans do not consume nearly enough fiber[1], and Registered Dietitians have been ringing the alarm bell for decades.[2] We need fiber to maintain a healthy gut and a healthy gut means a healthier body, better immunity, and optimal living.   We already know that fiber helps keep our bowel movements regular, and while that’s an important reason to live a high-fiber life, there’s A LOT more to it than a good healthy poo! 💩😉 A diet high in fiber is an essential weapon in the fight against obesity, diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease!  So if you are here because you are on the road to living a high-fiber lifestyle, we have some great news: your body is going to LOVE it!  In future articles, we will cover many more ways fiber improves your overall health, but today we’re covering four surprising things that happen to your body when you get enough fiber!  Decreased Appetite & Sugar Cravings Fiber is a powerful tool for weight loss. Think of it as your hunger-smashing hammer! When your diet is rich in fiber, you feel fuller longer; which means you eat less, lose weight, and properly eliminate. 💩 That’s why we say fiber up/slim down with just better.®  prebiotic fiber!  We recommend 1 to 2 Tablespoons of just better.® prebiotic fiber per meal  (3x per day) to help you reach your weight loss goals!  Your body gets an immunity boost when you give it enough fiber. Fun Fact: 70% of your immune system lives in your gut. 🤯 Your gut even has its very own ecosystem and needs full-time support from you. What does it need? Prebiotic fiber!  just better.®  is a prebiotic fiber that feeds the good bacteria in your gut.[3] Supporting that good bacteria means your gut microbiome is living its best life! 💃 And that means you are better protected from outside invaders (harmful viruses, etc.)!   Improved Athletic Performance.  just better.®  fiber contributes to endurance and athletic performance because it keeps blood sugars stable. Your body needs fiber to help stabilize blood glucose. Doing this helps to control your blood sugar from spiking or dropping. This gives you a more reliable energy supply. Who knew? 🤷🏻‍♀️ Well, now YOU do! 🧐  Fiber is a superhero that lowers cholesterol & triglycerides!  Soluble fiber can do amazing things! It’s like a superhero working in your intestine to bind with bad cholesterol and kick it out of your system! It works like a big sponge - soaking up bad cholesterol and triglycerides and politely escorting it outside of your body (into the sewer system). 😉   If you are on a mission to lower your bad cholesterol and/or triglycerides, commit to 1 to 2 Tablespoons of just better.®  fiber with every meal (3x per day).  👉 Give it four weeks, and you’ll never return to a low-fiber life again! As you can see, fiber is the often overlooked super-nutrient that works overtime to keep your body functioning optimally. So why would anyone not get enough fiber? At just better.®, we are doing our best to fix that, and we hope you will join the fight to close the fiber gap in your community!      ___________________________________ [1] Filling America's fiber intake gap: summary of a roundtable to probe realistic solutions with a focus on grain-based foods [2] The Future of Fiber: Closing the Fiber Gap with just better.® Prebiotic Fiber Supplement [3] Healthy Gut = Strong Immune System  

Getting enough fiber is easier than ever when you cook and bake with just better.® prebiotic fiber! In fact, we came up with a new healthy spin on a seasonal quick bread recipe, just better.® Zucchini Pumpkin Quick Bread.

Could Slowing Down be the Key to Weight Loss? 2020 was a wild year. Quarantine and isolation kept us safe however wreaked havoc on our waistlines. Now that 2021 has begun, are you tempted to try the latest fad diet to quickly get back into shape?  If so, we invite you to consider a different approach to achieving your health goals.

just better.®️ probiotic/prebiotic cream cheese fruit dip.  Only 4 ingredients!  Simple - Quick - Convenient!

just better.®️ hummus Healthy AND delicious!  

Could just better.® prebiotic fiber be the bridge to better health? Simple - Easy - Convenient just better.® promotes weight loss without dieting or deprivation. Add it to the foods and beverages you already eat and drink.  

Your GUT is responsible for70% of your immune system! Be good to your gut.