Fibre is an important part of a healthy balanced diet. It can help prevent heart disease, diabetes, weight gain and some cancers, and can also improve digestive health.
However, many people don't get enough fibre. On average, most people in the UK get about 14g of fibre a day. You should aim for at least 30g a day.
For children it is recommended the average amount of dietary fibre per day should be:
2-5-year-olds: about 15g
5-11-year-olds: about 20g
11-16-year-olds: about 25g
16-18-year-olds: about 30g
Fibre is only found in foods that come from plants. Foods such as meat, fish and dairy products don't contain any fibre.