Protein dominated the wellness aisle. Now fiber is finally having its moment

The useful part

For years, the easiest way to make an ordinary food sound healthier was to add protein. High-fiber pastas, breads, crackers, snack bars and drinks are multiplying, while prebiotic ingredients such as chicory root and cassava fiber are appearing in products that once had little connection to digestive health. Whole Foods Market named "Focus on Fiber" one of its major food trends for 2026.

How it works

• Fiber has genuine health benefits, many Americans do not get enough of it, and interest in the gut microbiome has given an old-fashioned nutrient a distinctly modern makeover.
• There is an important wrinkle: a cookie with added fiber is still a cookie, and a prebiotic claim does not automatically make a packaged food equivalent to beans, berries or whole grains.
• Fiber does much more than keep you regular Fiber is […] The post Protein dominated the wellness aisle.

Details worth keeping

Now another nutrient is moving toward the front of the package: fiber.