Fiber...
Just a correction about Grape-Nuts - despite the fact that they are hard as little rocks...they don't have all that much fiber in them...and are VERY calorie-dense to boot --here's the nutrition info for a tiny 1/2 cup of Grape-Nuts (from the USDA website):
208 calories
6.2 grams protein
a whopping 47 GRAMS OF CARBS
of which only 5 grams are fiber
7 grams sugar
1.1 gram fat
I stay away from cold cereal for the most part (not that I don't LOVE the stuff though!) and stick to old-fashioned oatmeal...but if I
was eating cold cereal on a regular basis, I'd probably steer towards stuff like All-Bran; 100% Bran Flakes; Uncle Sam Cereal (granted, it's an acquired taste
); Shredded Wheat (I'd steer clear of the Frosted Mini-Wheats though); Skinner's Raisin Bran (which has far less sugar in it than Post's or Kelloggs'). Read those labels - the less sugar and more fiber the better...remember, when you add milk to your cereal bowl, you will be adding still more sugar in the form of lactose...
Over at LWL, we have a little thread called "Articles worth Reading"...there's a great article there entitled "Foods that make you look good nekkid" that gives you a good general idea of what is good and what's crap...
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...threadid=23901
Basically...the less processed your food is...the better for fat loss, and overall health...and you'll get plenty of fiber without having to stress about it!
As far as books - there are a ton out there...but I'm surprised that your doctor didn't suggest a specific diet or book himself...you might want to ask your M.D. for recommendations.