High fiber nutritional compositions with improved organoleptic characteristics for better diet management

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and compositions for supplementing dietary fiber intake through the administration of new psyllium-containing chocolate food products. The compositions can be used to supplement dietary fiber intake and promote dietary regulation and wellness management. The chocolate composition comprising particular ratios of chocolate, psyllium, and lipids, and the emulsion-forming formulation methods disclosed herein surprisingly reduce the unpleasant gelling in the mouth/throat during mastication/swallowing that is frequently associated with psyllium-containing products. The protective capabilities of the ingredients of the present compositions provide for and, accordingly, allow for, suitable manufacturing and improved organoleptic properties which promote long-term adoption and consistent use by subjects.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lipid-rich, chocolate-rich, and high fiber-containing nutritional composition useful in the management of appetite, regularity, and other dietary matters with improved consumer acceptability and compliance characteristics comprising (a) at least about 10 wt. % psyllium but no more than about 18.5 wt. % psyllium and (b) a saturated fat in a concentration of between about 17 wt. % and about 21 wt. %, wherein the weight ratio of saturated fat to psyllium in the nutritional composition is about 1.1:1 to about 1.4:1; and further comprising (c) at least about 50 wt. % but no more than about 67.5 wt. % of a chocolate; (d) about 5 wt. % to about 15 wt. % of a texturizing element having a density of at least about 0.2 g/cm 3  (g/cc); and (e) between about 13 wt. % to about 15 wt. % unsaturated fat; wherein the total amount of fat in the nutritional composition is at least about 30 wt. %. 
     
     
         2 . The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises at least about 12 wt. % psyllium and no more than about 15 wt. % psyllium. 
     
     
         3 . The nutritional composition of  claim 2 , wherein the concentration of saturated fat is between about 17 wt. % and about 19 wt. %. 
     
     
         4 . The nutritional composition of  claim 3 , wherein the concentration of unsaturated fat is between about 13 wt. % and about 14 wt. %. 
     
     
         5 . The nutritional composition of  claim 4 , wherein the composition comprises no detectable amount of water. 
     
     
         6 . The nutritional composition of  claim 5 , wherein the amount of any fat ingredient of the nutritional composition that is liquid at room temperature makes up less than about 0.95 wt. % of the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         7 . The nutritional composition of  claim 6 , wherein the composition comprises at least about 12 wt. % psyllium and no more than about 15 wt. % psyllium. 
     
     
         8 . The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of chocolate to psyllium in the composition is between about 3.5:1 and about 4.25:1. 
     
     
         9 . The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein the psyllium is the only dietary fiber ingredient in the composition. 
     
     
         10 . The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nutritional composition can be characterized in that (a) the nutritional composition lacks any coating, (b) the nutritional composition is free of any chocolate flavoring other than the chocolate ingredient, or (c) by the nutritional composition lacking any coating and being free of any chocolate flavoring other than the chocolate ingredient. 
     
     
         11 . The nutritional composition of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 0.25 wt. % lecithin. 
     
     
         12 . The nutritional composition of  claim 7 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 0.25 wt. % lecithin. 
     
     
         13 . The nutritional composition of  claim 8 , wherein the composition comprises less than about 0.25 wt. % lecithin. 
     
     
         14 . A method of supplementing the diet of an individual with a safe and effective amount of dietary fiber by administering to the individual a nutritional product, use of which is easy to adopt and maintain, the method comprising providing the individual with between about 10 g and about 100 g of a nutritional composition comprising (a) at least about 10 wt. % psyllium but no more than about 18.5 wt. % psyllium and (b) a saturated fat in a concentration of between about 17 wt. % and about 21 wt. %, wherein the weight ratio of saturated fat to psyllium in the nutritional composition is between about 1.1:1 and about 1.4:1; and further comprising (c) at least about 50 wt. % but no more than about 67.5 wt. % of a chocolate; (d) at least about 10 wt. % of a texturizing element having a density of at least 0.2 g/cm 3  (g/cc); and (e) between about 13 wt. % and about 15 wt. % unsaturated fat; wherein the total amount of fat in the nutritional composition is at least about 30 wt. %. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method comprises administering about 10 g to about 30 g of the nutritional composition at least one time per day and no more than four times per day as part of a nutritional supplementation plan. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the about 10 g to the about 100 g of the nutritional composition administered to the individual represents between one half to four servings of the nutritional composition. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the nutritional product is provided in unit packages comprising between about 10 g and about 30 g of the nutritional composition, each unit package comprising at least about 3.1 g of psyllium. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the method comprises reducing the minimum recommended amount of water consumed with the nutritional product during the period in which the nutritional product is used. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the individual is a person that has received a recommendation for adoption of a high fiber diet but has previously failed to maintain a consistent regimen of psyllium consumption. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the individual has a condition selected form excessive caloric intake, regular constipation, high cholesterol, or a combination of any or all thereof.