Parents may have a new weapon to stem the rising waves of childhood obesity and chronic disease in America: Reformulated processed foods -- think cookies and pasta -- that contain more whole grains and soluble fiber, but retain their flavor, so kids don't notice the difference.

Scientists tested the appeal for chocolate chip cookies and burritos fortified with grains and soluble fiber versus those made with refined flour on the picky palates of elementary school students for 13 weeks. The new, improved burritos featured 19 grams of whole grains and 1.4 grams of B-glucan soluble fiber and the cookies contained a little less (1.2 grams of B-glucan soluble fiber, 8 grams of whole grains).

Both sets of foods were served on various Fridays and quality parameters (color, texture, weight and size) were measured, along with how much students left on their plates.

Because there were no significant differences in the consumption of the fiber/whole grain-rich foods versus the control foods, there's hope these new foods could boost the daily fiber intake of the average American far above the current 14 grams per day calculated by California researchers.

Journal of Food Science, Vol. 74, No. 5, p. 139-146, June/July 2009

FoodQuality News.com July 2, 2009