Zalyne Holt had always thought fiber was just something older adults worried about. “It wasn’t even on my radar,” she laughs. That is, until she began experiencing digestive issues that left her feeling uncomfortable and sluggish by late afternoon.
“I was skipping lunch or grabbing fast food,” Zalyne admits. “Then I’d feel bloated or tired the rest of the day.” A friend suggested trying more fiber-rich meals, and Zalyne gave it a shot—reluctantly.
What surprised her most wasn’t just the digestive benefits, but how enjoyable it was. Her favorite lunch now? A quinoa and chickpea salad with cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and tahini dressing. “It’s fresh, filling, and I don’t feel heavy after eating,” she says.
Other days, she packs a lentil soup with a side of roasted veggies, or a whole grain wrap stuffed with hummus, spinach, and shredded carrots. “Once you realize how good fiber-rich food tastes, you stop missing the junk,” she smiles.
After just a week, her energy stabilized, and the bloating faded. “It was like my body finally said, ‘thank you.’”
Now, Zalyne makes it a point to build lunches that are colorful, textured, and full of natural fiber. “It’s a simple shift, but it changed my days,” she says. “Lunch went from something I skipped to something I look forward to.”
