My daughter eats no fresh fruits or vegetables, but she does drink juices made from our juicer. However, I am concerned about the lack of fiber in her diet. Is fiber important for kids?

Yes, fiber is important. And fruits and vegetables are one of the best sources. However, if your daughter includes plenty of whole grains in her diet, she may be getting at least some. In fact, whole grains are one of the best sources of fiber. If she eats a whole grain cereal in the morning, some whole wheat bread for lunch and then has a grain at dinner, she will be getting significant amounts of fiber.

Another good source of fiber for kids is dried fruits, especially raisins. If your daughter enjoys fresh juice, perhaps she would also enjoy a fruit smoothie made in the blender. A blender does not filter out the fiber in the fruit as a juicer does, so she will be getting all the fiber it contains.

You did not mention the age of your daughter. The younger she is, the less fiber she needs. There is a recommendation for fiber intake called the "Age Plus five" rule. That means your child needs the number of grams of fiber each day equal to his or her age plus five. Therefore, a two-year-old needs about seven grams. By adulthood, a daily amount of 25 to 30 grams is recommended.

If you wish to learn more about the importance of fiber and find fiber rich alternative to some common foods, you may want to refer to my article that appears on iVillage's Food Channel, The Facts on Fiber: Are You Getting Enough?