10 High-Fiber Foods to Keep You Full in a Day, According to a Dietitian

Steph Grasso, MS, RD (@stephgrassdietician) is a nutritionist with 2.2 million followers on TikTok. She regularly shares content about how to stay healthy, lose weight, and build muscle without depriving your body of what it needs. In one recent viral video, she reveals 10 high-fiber foods that will keep you full all day long and help you lose weight. “Remember, it's important for a woman to get at least 25 grams of fiber and men 38 grams per day, not per week, per day,” she explains. “So here's a list of foods that you can start adding to your diet.”

Legumes

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“Starting off strong legumes. That's why I just preach beans all the time. Convenient. They're cheap. Canned beans, no cooking required,” she says, revealing that a single cup of cooked lentils boasts 15 grams of fiber and one cup canned beans, 12 to 16. “My tip, batch cook lentil soup for the week.”

Related: I Lost 30 Pounds and Here’s Everything I Learned Along My Journey

Whole Grains

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Next up, whole grains, “because with whole grains they don't strip out the bran, which is where you get the fiber. She notes that a single cup of barley offers 6 grams, oats 4 grams, and quinoa, 5 grams.

Fruit

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“Of course, we know fruits have a lot of fiber,” she continues. “Just have a cup of berries for a snack. Boom. Eight grams of fiber right there. One medium apple, four grams, it all adds up.”

Veggies

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“Most veggies are going to have a good amount of fiber and not all fiber is created equal. That's why we say eat the rainbow,” she says, noting that one cup cooked broccoli offers 5 grams, one cup spinach or carrots, 4 grams, or one sweet potato, 4 grams.

Chia Seeds

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“Okay, this one's a little crazy. Two tablespoons of chia seeds, 10 grams,” she exclaims about the tiny, fibrous seeds.

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Flax Seeds

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Similarly, two tablespoons of flax seeds offer six grams. “You could throw into your smoothie, your oatmeal, yogurt, salads. It makes for a great add-on,” she says.

Dried Fruit

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“I don't think many people know this. Dried fruit. I mean, look at that,” she says, revealing that one-half cup of dried figs offers 7 grams of fiber and prunes, 6 grams. “Makes for another great snack.”

Whole Grain Cereal

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“I love cereal,” she exclaims. “Not only is it loaded with tons of vitamins and minerals, but check out the fiber.” For example, bran flakes boast 7 grams fiber.

Frozen Edamame

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“Frozen edamame, mmm,” she exclaims. “My go-to plus it's loaded with protein,” she says, noting that one cup offers 8 grams fiber.

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Popcorn

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Last but not least, she suggests three cups of popcorn, which has 4 grams of fiber.

💪🔥Body Booster: Women should aim for 25 grams of fiber daily and men, 38. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.

Eating more – not less – can help you lose weight. However, it involves knowing exactly what to eat. Health experts unanimously agree that the best weight loss diets involve eating a sufficient enough of protein and fiber. “Fiber is indigestible plant matter. Your body tries to digest it and it can’t,” explains The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian. “While it is trying to digest the fiber, the digestive tract is working and it makes you feel full and satisfied for longer,” she continues. “It also contributes to larger stools, which help prevent constipation and can also add form to stool if loose stool is a problem.” But not all fibrous foods are created equal. Here are 10 that she recommends if you are trying to lose weight.

1. Legumes

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Legumes, including beans and lentils are high in soluble fiber, explains Collingwood. “Beans are quite filling and they are really versatile in recipes,” she says. She suggests adding them to soups and salads, using them to make curries, or serving as a side dish.

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2. High Fiber Cereal

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An easy way to amp up your fiber intake is via high fiber cereal, including All Bran, Bran flakes, Fiber One, and Kashi, which “can be a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber,” she says. “A little bit can go a long way with some cereals, which offer up to 12-14 grams of fiber per serving.” If you don’t want to eat in a bowl with milk, you can add cereal to smoothies or yogurt, or use in salad for an extra crunch.

3. Berries

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Berries – including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries – are fibrous fruits. “Berries have edible seeds that provide fiber,” she explains. Eat berries on their own, or add to your yogurt, smoothie, salad, or even eat them as a dessert.

4. Whole Grains

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Whole grains – like whole grain bread, oatmeal, or brown rice – are also great sources of fiber. “You can get the benefits of whole grains (extra nutrients) as well as more fiber,” she said. You can make sandwiches for lunch, toast for breakfast, or have a bowl of oatmeal.

5. Fruit with Skin

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Eating your fruit – like apples and pears – with skin offers some extra benefits. “Anytime you eat the skin on a fruit, you are getting a nice dose of fiber,” Collingwood says. If you don’t feel like snacking on a piece of fruit, consider adding to your salad or chopping up an apple and dipping it in peanut butter or Greek yogurt for a sweet treat or snack.

6. Cruciferous Veggies

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Cruciferous veggies, including kale, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage, are also great sources of fiber and packed with other nutrients as well, says Collingwood. She recommends eating them sauteed, roasted, raw in salads, or juiced.

7. Potato or Sweet Potato with Skin

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Don’t even think about peeling your potato or sweet potato, says Collingwood. “Potatoes are high in antioxidants but when you eat the skin you also get the added benefits of the fiber,” she explains. How should you eat them? Baked, mashed, cut in cubes or strips and air fried, she recommends.

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8. Nuts and Seeds

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Nuts and seeds (flax, hemp, chia seeds, almonds, pistachios, etc) boast lots of nutrition. “Nuts and seeds are famous for their monounsaturated and omega-3 fats, but they also provide fiber,” Collingwood explains. Eat them roasted as a snack, added to cereal, quick breads, salads, smoothies, etc.

9. Bean Based Pastas

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Bean based pastas (chickpea, edamame, black bean) offer a lot of fiber, says Collingwood. “White pasta doesn’t traditionally have much fiber, but when you choose a pasta that is made with beans, the fiber content skyrockets,” she says.

10. Avocado

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Avocados are surprisingly fibrous. “We think of avocado as a source of fat, but they are surprisingly high in fiber,” says Collingwood. Slice in half for a snack, add to salads, avocado toast, or in a smoothie.

💪🔥Body Booster: Try not to peel your potatoes! The skin of both sweet and white potatoes is a great source of fiber.

Steph Grasso, MS, RD (@stephgrassdietician) is a nutritionist with 2.2 million followers on TikTok. She regularly shares content about how to stay healthy, lose weight, and build muscle without depriving your body of what it needs. In one of her viral videos, she explains why having a balanced diet and not seriously restricting yourself from certain types of food is key not only for losing weight but your mental health. We also asked The Diet Diva, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, and a Board Certified Sports Dietitian, to weigh in.

Why You Need to Eat Carbs and Protein

Steph starts by explaining how carbs and protein are important. “If you eat carbs, you'll feel energized. If you eat protein, you'll feel satisfied. If you eat protein and carbs, you'll feel satisfied and energized,” she starts off the video by saying.

Why You Should Add Fiber

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Next, she illustrates the importance of adding fiber to the mix. “If you eat fiber, you'll feel full. If you eat fiber, protein, and carbs, you'll feel full, satisfied, and energized,” she continues.

Related: 5 Cardio Workouts That Are Better Than Running

Fats Are Also Important, She Says

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Don’t overlook the benefits of fat, she stresses. “If you eat fats, you'll have stable energy levels. If you eat fats, fiber, protein, and carbs, you'll have stable energy levels, feel full, feel satisfied, and feel energized,” she adds.

Here Is Why You Should Eat What You Are Craving

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“If you eat what you're craving, you'll feel happy. If you're eating what you're craving, fats, fiber, protein, and carbs, then you'll feel happy, you'll have stable energy levels, you'll feel full, you'll feel satisfied, and you'll feel energized,” she says.

Start Adding, Stop Restricting

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The bottom line and moral of the story? “Start adding. Stop restricting,” she concludes.

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RDN Agrees

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Collingwood is completely on board with her advice. “I love this,” she says. “Every part of it is absolutely true. Carbs are energy, fat and protein sustain and provide stability and fiber fills. Depriving leaves you unhappy so eat what you’re craving but just stick to moderation.”

💪🔥Body Booster: Instead of restricting yourself from carbs, protein, fiber, fats, and foods you are craving, think about how each of them can benefit your health and choose accordingly.