The concept of food combining is a nutritional approach suggesting you avoid mixing carbohydrate foods with protein-rich foods in the same meal. This approach was originally developed in the 1920s by William Hay as a means for regulating your digestive process with alkaline, acid and neutral foods. Your digestive enzymes, which promote the breakdown and movement of foods through the body, function at optimal levels when you pair the correct foods together. Conversely, when you pair the wrong foods, your body retains elements such as fat rather than eliminating it, which might induce weight gain. Food combining is not scientifically supported, but MayoClinic.com says you can lose weight by choosing your foods and calories carefully.
Step 1
Identify foods' energy density of foods. A food with a high caloric density has a large amount of calories in a little amount. MayoClinic.com indicates that your goal for achieving weight loss is met by eating a lot of low-energy-density foods to stay fuller longer. You can combine certain foods to achieve low-calorie fullness, but it does not necessarily mean you must eliminate carbohydrate/protein combinations.
Step 2
Cut saturated fat from your meals. Saturated fats are high-energy-density foods and include red meat, whole dairy or eggs yolks. These foods are also high in protein. Replace saturated fats with unsaturated or low-fat foods such as fish, chicken and fat-free dairy. If you are following the rules of food combining, eat your low-fat protein source with a vegetable such as broccoli or spinach.
Step 3
Consume whole grain forms of carbohydrates. Whole grain wheat bread or pasta, oatmeal and brown rice are fibrous starches that help you digest properly. Combine sweet potatoes with mixed vegetables such as asparagus and eggplant or brown rice with green beans. If you are following a strict food combining diet, do not pair starchy grains with a meat protein.
Step 4
Eat fruit by itself. Fruit does not pair well with any other nonfruit foods because it can ferment in your body and delay digestion. Sweet fruits such as bananas, raisins or papaya can be mixed with less-acidic fruits such as apples, berries or peaches, but not with highly acidic fruits such as grapefruit. Fruits are low-calorie-density foods that you can eat more of without adding unnecessary calories to your diet. Choose fruit as a snack in between your regular meals to aid with weight loss.
Step 5
Add salads to your daily meal plan. Salad greens are filling and not energy dense. Combine nonstarchy vegetables to your salad, such as cucumbers, red peppers and cauliflower, but do not add tomatoes if you are following a strict food combining diet. Tomatoes are considered acidic and more of a fruit than vegetable in this type of diet. You can add nuts for protein in your salad.
Tips and Warnings
- Find the best food combinations for your lifestyle, but keep in mind that healthy weight loss is accomplished through eating fewer calories and foods that are low fat and high in nutrients for energy. Eat a grapefruit or drink a glass of grapefruit juice 30 minutes before breakfast to stimulate your metabolism.
- Eat melons alone because they do not combine well with any other foods. Following a strict food combining diet based on the Hay Theory is not necessarily healthy and should be done with caution, notes the Merck Manual.
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