Food Combining Recipes (2024)

If you’re interested in trying Food Combining, but aren’t quite sure how to get started, I thought it might be helpful to share some properly combined recipes, clearly labeled by category, to make things easier.

Food Combining Recipes (1)

People who follow food combining have reported losing weight without counting calories, feeling less bloated, getting clearer skin, better sleep, and more. What I love about this concept, is that you don’t have to give up any foods that you love! You simply won’t eat them all at the same time, making you a little more mindful at meal time.

Food Combining for Weight Loss

I’ll be the first to admit that there is not a lot of research on food combining. However, studies have shown that humans have a tendency to overeat when we are offered a wide variety of foods during a meal.(source) So, by simplifying our meals, we may naturally eat less, without counting calories. That might be the most straight-forward reason that food combining does seem to work when it comes to weight loss.

Another study showed that food combining seemed to have the same effect as a low-calorie diet when it comes to weight loss, with both groups losing a similar amount of weight. (source) I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not count calories or worry about numbers, which is another reason why I fell in love with food combining in the first place.

How to Practice Food Combining

The general idea of food combining is that you’ll eat from only one category of foods at each meal, along with plenty of fresh, low-carb vegetables.

Food Combining Recipes (2)

The 4 main categories in food combining are Fresh Fruit, Animal Protein, Starches, and Nuts/Seeds/Dried Fruit. You can find a printable food combining chart here to help, or choose a meal from one of the categories below.

Ideally, you’ll wait 3 to 4 hours between each meal, allowing those foods to fully digest before you switch categories at your next meal. If you feel the need for a snack between, choose fresh sliced veggies, such as carrots, celery, cauliflower, or broccoli florets for an easy “neutral” option. Or, you can stick to the same category of food for two meals in a row, and snack from that category, too. (For example, you might have an Almond Butter Smoothie for breakfast, a Date Energy Ball as a mid-morning snack, and a large salad tossed with tahini dressing for lunch, which would all fall into the nut/seed/dried fruit category.)

Here are some properly combined recipes for you to try, listed by category:

Fresh Fruit:

Food Combining Recipes (3)

Because fruit digests so quickly, I usually enjoy it most at breakfast in the form of a large smoothie. You’ll notice that the recipes below are properly combined, so they don’t call for protein powder, or nut butter with the fresh fruit. (Avocado is a fruit, though, and it can help keep you full!)

  • Dragon Fruit Smoothie
  • Blueberry Detox Smoothie
  • Low-Sugar Smoothies
  • Cherry Chocolate Smoothie
  • Strawberry Mango Smoothie
  • Acai Smoothie
  • My Go-To Smoothie for Kids
  • Cherry Chocolate Avocado Pudding
  • Kale Salad with Peach Vinaigrette

Nut/Seed/Dried Fruit:

Food Combining Recipes (4)

I like to serve nuts and seeds with plenty of fresh veggies, to keep the overall meal hydrating and easier to digest. Bananas and dates typically combine well in this category, too, so feel free to see how that feels for you.

  • Date Energy Balls
  • Coffee Smoothie
  • Chocolate Chia Pudding
  • Vegan Ranch Dressing
  • Kale Caesar Salad (without the chickpeas)
  • Creamy Tahini Dressing
  • Cashew Queso (served with raw veggies)
  • Chia Pudding (topped with banana)
  • Zucchini Hummus
  • Dairy-Free Cashew Cheesecake
  • Creamy Cucumber Tahini Dressing
  • Almond Butter Freezer Fudge

Starch:

Food Combining Recipes (5)

If the following options don’t feel hearty enough for a meal, keep in mind that you can serve them with bread, cooked grains, or a baked potato, if desired.

  • Zucchini Oatmeal (a great warm breakfast option!)
  • Sweet Potato Toast (topped with avocado or white bean spread)
  • Detox Salad with Lemon-Ginger Dressing
  • Sweet Potato Lasagna
  • Vegan Cheese Sauce
  • Avocado Caesar Salad
  • Vegan Chickpea Salad
  • Chipotle Black Bean Burrito Bowls
  • Vegan Sweet Potato Nachos
  • Chickpea “Egg” Salad
  • Vegan Burrito Bowls with Sweet Potato “Rice”
  • Chickpea Tikka Masala with Green Rice
  • Sweet Potato Noodle Casserole with Pumpkin Sauce
  • Easy Lentil, Sweet Potato and Coconut Curry
  • Sweet Potato Mac n’ Cheese
  • Instant Pot Quinoa Burrito Bowls
  • Mediterranean Socca Flatbread Pizza

Animal Protein:

Food Combining Recipes (6)

You can serve animal protein meals with loads of non-starchy veggies, like a side salad or some simple roasted vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts.

  • Cauliflower Pizza Crust
  • Instant Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
  • Pizza Stir Fry
  • Cauliflower “Steak” Pizzas
  • Crustless Quiche
  • Zucchini Pizza Boats
  • Egg Roll in a Bowl
  • Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs
  • Flourless Zucchini Pie
  • Leftover Turkey Soup
  • Instant Pot Egg Bites
  • Mexican Chicken Soup
  • Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti Squash with Chicken
  • Curried Chicken Stew

Neutral Desserts:

Food Combining Recipes (7)

If you crave something sweet after a meal, the following recipes are a nice option that shouldn’t interfere with digestion too much. In general, you don’t want to drink a lot of liquid immediately after a meal, so sip these warm beverages slowly, or you can always opt for a small piece of dark chocolate instead.

  • Healthy Hot Chocolate
  • Chai Latte
  • Instant Vegan Latte
  • Dark chocolate (70% or darker)

I hope these recipe ideas make it easier for you to give food combining a try!

Reader Feedback: Have you tried food combining? Feel free to join us for Food Combining challenge over in our private Facebook group if you’d like some extra support!

Food Combining Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Does food combining really work? ›

In fact, there is no evidence to support most of the principles of food combining. What's more, many of the original food-combining diets were developed more than 100 years ago, when much less was known about nutrition and digestion.

Why shouldn't you eat carbs and protein together? ›

Either way, the story goes, if you eat these foods in combination, they will “cancel each other out” and not be digested. There is simply no science to support these ideas, despite the fact that proponents of food combining (or food segregation, really) speak in terms that sound scientific.

What foods are good to combine for gut health? ›

- Protein and vegetables is the best combination for easy digestion and absorption. - Fruit should be eaten on its own, with vegetables or before meals (due to the fact it is fast digesting). - Healthy fats like avocado are neutral and can be paired with most foods.

What foods help burn belly fat? ›

Five foods that may help burn belly fat include:
  • foods with soluble fiber like fruits, vegetables, and legumes.
  • foods with protein like meat, fish, eggs, and dairy.
  • fatty fish like tuna and salmon.
  • foods with probiotics like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi.
  • green tea.

Does food combining help IBS? ›

Eat fruits alone.

If mixed with something else, the digestion process for fruits gets slowed down. As a result, fruits will rot and produce discomfort and gas in the stomach. Eat starchy foods like rice, bread, noodles with green leafy vegetables. Do not eat starch and protein foods at the same meal.

What foods Cannot be combined? ›

A list of common foods that don't complement each other.
  • Cereal and orange juice. The acids in orange juice destroy the enzyme that helps digest starches present in cereal. ...
  • Melons and milk. ...
  • Fruits after meals. ...
  • Beans and cheese. ...
  • Ghee and honey. ...
  • Tomato and cheese pasta sauce.
Jul 11, 2013

What are the rules of food combining? ›

1) Always eat fruit, especially melon, on an empty stomach. Or at least twenty minutes before eating anything else. 2) Eat starches alone or with cooked non-starchy vegetables. 3) Eat meat, dairy, fish, eggs, and other high-protein foods alone or with cooked non-starchy vegetables.

Does food combining help acid reflux? ›

Book overview. The authors argue that food combining will help acid indigestion, food allergies and other eating complaints.

Which vegetables not to eat together? ›

Here are some unhealthy food combinations to avoid when mixing fruits and vegetables: 1. Fruits and Starchy Vegetables: Mixing acidic fruits like citrus fruits and tomatoes with starchy vegetables like potatoes, corn, and peas can slow down digestion and cause bloating, gas, and discomfort.

Is it bad to eat meat and potatoes together? ›

Over the past several years, scientists in the U.S., New Zealand, Scotland, and beyond have debunked the myth that red meat and starch are double trouble. In fact, they've shown that eating resistant carbs like potatoes with red meat promotes better digestive health than eating red meat on its own.

Is food combining healthy? ›

Food combining proponents claim that it improves gut health. But food combining is not as effective as it claims to be for one key reason: the human gastrointestinal tract is built to digest all macronutrients when eaten in combination.

What kills bad bacteria in the gut? ›

The best way to get rid of bad bacteria in the gut is by creating the right environment for a balanced and diverse microbiome to thrive. Of course, there are ways to directly kill bacteria, whether that's by pharmaceutical antibiotics or antimicrobial herbs and supplements.

What foods are hardest on the gut? ›

The Worst Foods for Your Gastrointestinal System
  1. Deep-fried foods. Deep-fried foods absorb copious amounts of fats — oil, shortening, or lard — during the cooking process. ...
  2. Processed foods. ...
  3. High-fat foods. ...
  4. Coffee. ...
  5. Spicy foods. ...
  6. Alcohol. ...
  7. Citrus fruits. ...
  8. Chocolate.

Is food combining good for weight loss? ›

Does it work for weight loss? While there are no studies available to support certain methods of food combining — such as avoiding fruit on an empty stomach or sticking to one type of food per meal — other variations can be beneficial.

Will I lose weight if I blend my food? ›

Therefore, while swapping some of your meals for smoothies may lead to short-term weight loss, it's unlikely to be effective long-term. The 21-Day Smoothie Diet is low in calories, plus high in fiber, which may lead to short-term weight loss.

Does the body digest blended food better? ›

Improves The Nutrient Absorption

Through blending, the body can absorb nutrients easily, while preserving some energy that it can instead use in repair or revitalization.

Do you get more nutrients from blending food? ›

When compared to eating a salad, blending is more beneficial because your body can absorb more of the nutrients. This occurs because the blender has the power to break up the cell walls of a plant. The result is a release of the antioxidants which also allows for easier digestion.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Jerrold Considine

Last Updated:

Views: 5975

Rating: 4.8 / 5 (78 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Jerrold Considine

Birthday: 1993-11-03

Address: Suite 447 3463 Marybelle Circles, New Marlin, AL 20765

Phone: +5816749283868

Job: Sales Executive

Hobby: Air sports, Sand art, Electronics, LARPing, Baseball, Book restoration, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Jerrold Considine, I am a combative, cheerful, encouraging, happy, enthusiastic, funny, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.