The importance of fibre for children

Fibre is an essential nutrient for all ages. It passes through the gut undigested, helping to keep the gut healthy and boost the numbers of good bacteria that live there. Fibre helps to keep the bowels ‘regular’ and prevents constipation. Fibre also helps to provide steady-release energy by slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates that have been eaten during meals and snacks.

How much fibre does my child need?

• Children aged 2-5 need to eat 15g fibre/ day
• Children aged 5-11 need to eat 20g fibre/ day
• Children aged 11-16 need to eat 25g fibre/ day

As a guide, 1 apple or a medium-sized jacket potato contains approximately 4g fibre.

Children in the UK don’t eat enough fibre, research has shown that 4-10 year olds eat 72% of the recommended amount, and those aged 11-18 eat just 64% of the recommended amount.

Children who follow a gluten-free diet may consume less fibre because of the removal of wheat and wheat-containing foods from the diet. However, this doesn’t need to be the case. Lots of fibre-rich foods are naturally gluten free – for example fruit, vegetables, jacket potatoes eaten with skins, brown rice, beans, pulses and lentils. There are also a variety of naturally gluten free grains, such as those that Schar use in their popular Wholesome loaves – e.g quinoa, buckwheat and millet.

Did you know? All of Schar’s Wholesome loaves are gluten and wheat free, and high in fibre – even our delicious wholesome white loaf!

• 2 slices of Schar Wholesome White loaf contains 4g fibre
• 2 slices of Schar Wholesome Seeded loaf contains 5g fibre
• 2 slices of Schar Wholesome Vitality loaf contains 5.6g fibre