new day

I found this simplified system for those interested in the practice of food combining.  In applying Food Combining rules, you create an environment of optimal digestion, assimilation, and elimination in your body.  In other words, your body will take the best and leave the rest, giving you energy instead of using energy.

One important category that is skipped below is water.  In order to allow the enzymes in yo tummy to do there job, you’ve gotta be careful not to dilute them.  Stop drinking water 15-20 before eating, and wait 2 hours before drinking water again.  This may seem hard at first, but becomes much easier after only a few days.  The trick is to hydrate a lot in the morning, and then be conscious to hydrate between meals, since you’ll have to wait so long after you eat before you may drink again.

For the in-depth version of this system go to http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/application-of-food-combining-principles/application-of-the-food-combining-rules.html .

A Simple Approach

In many aspects of life, with simplification comes less excess. The same is true for the body. In a world obsessed with abundance and the availability of every imaginable foodstuff 365 days a year, food combining helps us simplify our food choices. The basic rule of thumb is: The simpler the meal, the easier digestion will be. Simple meals, moderate portions, and chewing food slowly and with an attitude of reverence all help maintain easy digestion and free-flowing energy in the body. It doesn’t take long to get the hang of food combining with these simple guidelines:

Fruits are the easiest and fastest foods to digest, and for that reason should always be eaten separately from proteins, grains, and vegetables. They are further classified into acid, subacid, sweet, and melons—based on their levels of acid and sugar—and have their own set of guidelines for combinations. Digestion time: 20 minutes to one hour.

All vegetables can be combined with one another as well as with proteins. For optimal digestive ease, it’s best to combine only nonstarchy and low-starch vegetables with grains. Digestion time: 30 minutes to two hours.

Grains can be eaten alone or combined with nonstarchy and low-starch vegetables. Do not combine grains with protein or with starchy vegetables. It’s best to have only one type of grain at a meal, so decide if you really want that hunk of bread or if it’s worth waiting for the rice. Digestion time: two to three hours.

Proteins can be eaten alone or combined with nonstarchy, low-starch, and starchy vegetables. It’s best to have only one type of protein at a meal. Digestion time: two to four hours.

This is a vegan salad in the style of chicken salad.  Also, I consider it RAW, even though I personally like to saute the garlic for less than 20 seconds… which you can choose to not do.  It’s fat content comes from “medium chain triglycerides” found in the coconut oil… read this awesome article explaining the importance of MCT fat - http://backacrosstheline.blogspot.com/2007/09/mct-oil-advantages.html.

This salad also follows the food combining rules for ideal digestion.  These rules are… complicated… but if you’re interested check out this SUPER THOROUGH site - http://www.rawfoodexplained.com/application-of-food-combining-principles/application-of-the-food-combining-rules.html

Super MCT Alert Chickpea Salad Recipe:

2 tablespoons Coconut oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
juice of half a lemon
2 tablespoons tahini
1 tablespoon grain mustard
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
1/3 cup finely shredded onion
1/2 cup chopped carrot
drop of agave
dash of nutmeg
teaspoon cumin
few drops of tamari
2 cups sprouted chickpeas

Heat Oil in fry pan, saute garlic for no more than 20 seconds, remove from heat.

If you have a food processor… this is definitely easier- process all solid ingredients to a pulp except for the chickpeas - they should be chopped… then just add oils and spices.  If using a blender, add all ingredients in order listed, starting with oil and garlic.

Blend.  Enjoy on a veggie salad or with veggie sticks.  Also super tasty with tomatoes.

Note: According to proper food combining, protein and acids (mustard, lemon, tahini, chickpeas) should never be taken with carbohydrates (rice, grains, potatoes) or sweet/sub-acid fruits.