Fiber? Why should I care about eating fiber, and how much fiber do I need? This article gives a summary of why fiber is important, and daily fiber recommendations based upon your age and caloric intake.

And the following recipe gives you a delicious way to increase your fiber intake. This is a classic bran muffin recipe that I have tweaked over the years to improve flavor and texture and also reduce the sugar and oil content without sacrificing taste. These muffins are moist and bursting with flavor, everyone I serve these muffins to asks me for the recipe.  

 

Lisa's Tropical Bran Muffins
(Makes 16 regular size, or 8 large muffins)

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of Kellogg brand "All Bran Buds"
1 cup buttermilk
1 egg
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce plus 2 Tbsp. light olive oil
   (OR substitute 1/3 cup vegetable oil)
1/3 cup molasses plus 1/4 cup coconut sugar
    (OR substitute 1 cup brown sugar)
1/2 of a small can of crushed pineapple in it's unsweeted juice
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
1/4 cup chopped pecans or macadamia nuts
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix together the bran buds and buttermilk, let stand for 10 minutes.
3. Beat together the egg, applesauce, oil, molasses, coconut sugar and add this to the buttermilk/bran mixture.
4. Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
5. Fold in the pinapple, nuts, and coconut flakes.
6. Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins.
7. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Do not overbake.
8. Cool and enjoy plain or with butter or a drizzle of honey