Food Combining Diet

This diet rests on the theory that specific food groups are digested optimally eaten in these combinations:

Proteins (meat, beans, fish, poultry, nuts) and starches (carrots, rice, grains, breads, pasta, carrots, cereal) ought to be eaten at separate meals.

Proteins can be eaten with vegetables along with vegetables. Fruits ought to be consumed by themselves.

Starches are best absorbed best alone or alongside vegetables as the ph of the digestive tract is alkaline. Protein digestion requires stomach acid. Should proteins and starches be combined, the digestive system is neither acid nor alkaline enough for either group to be absorbed well. Those who promote the food combining diet consider that this can bring about health problems like poor digestion.

Pros Cons
  • This diet advocates the consumption of lots of fruit , vegetables and whole meal grains which have all have a positive impact on digestion.
  • Reasonably easy to maintain.
  • This diet can prove difficult and time consuming to adhere to. Normal combinations like tuna sandwiches, chicken and potatoes, tofu and rice are not permitted.
  • A lack of nutrients may be consumed should meals not be planned properly. As protein and starches are not able to be combined on this diet, dieters select one, usually starch as it is more filling.
  • It is vital to ensure that enough calcium, protein, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 are consumed.
  • This diet does not permit the combination of starch and proteins. However, there is no scientific evidence to prove that the combination of protein and starch is not beneficial. In fact, when fats and proteins are combined with starch, starch absorption slows down helping maintenance of steady insulin and blood sugar levels.
  • No predicted levels of weight loss on this diet.

Daily Meal Plan

There are specific foods you are allowed to eat. You are not allowed to eat proteins and starches together.

Foods allowed

  • Fruit by itself
  • Vegetables
  • Wholemeal grains like brown bread, brown rice, brown pasta
  • Lean meat, like chicken, lean red meat, as well as seafood.

Foods not permitted

  • Beans
  • Proteins and starches together

Breakfast

  • All Bran
  • Orange Juice
  • Strawberries, blackberries, blueberries

Lunch

  • Roast chicken
  • Roast vegetables (green peppers, garlic cloves, fennel, mushrooms)
  • Apricot youghurt

Dinner

  • Baked potato
  • Avacado