The Solution

The question of proper and hygienic combinations of food is one which greatly exercises the mind of many who find it necessary to consider their diet from a health standpoint. Yet we believe that those who have carefully followed us in our discussion of the previous chapters can readily see that when the daily ration is properly balanced, and one is careful not to overeat, the problem of food combination is to a great extent solved. And again we are reminded of the beauty and freedom of eating, as well as living, by principle rather than merely by rule. However, there are a few points in this connection which perhaps should be spoken of in addition to those already discussed.

Small Variety

First, and perhaps most important of all, is this: the menu having been properly balanced it is much better to serve a small variety at one meal. A large variety often complicates the digestive processes and tends to overeating. Different kinds of digestive juices are called forth by different foods. If the variety is too great the stomach may find it difficult or impossible to manufacture so many kinds of gastric juice at the same time and thus the digestive process be hindered.

Often when some particular food disagrees, it can be eaten and properly digested if taken unmixed with other foods. This is sometimes true in cases where fruit is not well taken. Although fruit should form a part of the dietary of everyone, yet there are those who seem unable to take it in any form, particularly if raw, or very acid. In nearly every case if these persons would devote one meal to the eating of fruit and nothing else, they would find themselves able to eat it without trouble, and they would often soon find it possible to add one other simple food to the fruit meal, such as oven toast or cereal in some form.

Fruit And Vegetable

The combination of fruit and vegetable is not an ideal one.

Fruit being a predigested food, should pass from the stomach very soon after entering it. Vegetables often require rather a prolonged stomach digestion because of the protein which they contain. The fruit cellulose in addition to that contained in the vegetable may greatly retard and even prevent the digestion of the vegetable protein. This objection is to a great extent removed if the fruit is served in the form of a puree, the cellulose removed as in prune or apple whip, fruit mold, etc., or if the vegetables are tender, free from fibrous cellulose and easy of digestion. There is ordinarily no objection to fruit juices taken at meals where vegetables are served.

Starch And Acids

Much has been said in regard to the combination of starches and acids, the reason being given that the ptyalin of the saliva which acts upon starch does its work only in an alkaline medium, the saliva normally being slightly alkaline. However, as all of our food except meat and nuts contains starch, this would interdict the eating of fruits with any food ordinarily served. Even cottage cheese and buttermilk with their lactic acid content would have to be eaten by themselves. With a properly balanced ration and careful mastication the question of this combination may be disregarded.

Milk And Sugar

The milk and sugar combination has already been spoken of and, while it is perhaps not necessary to avoid it entirely, it should be remembered that milk and sugar combined in excessive quantities may prove very injurious, and for one with a weak digestion should be avoided.

Fruit And Milk

Whether or not milk and fruit should be taken at the same meal depends largely on how they are taken. We quote as follows:

"There is a deep-rooted impression that sweet milk and fruit should not be taken at the same meal. This idea is evidently largely based upon the fact that milk curdles in the presence of a fruit acid; but the curdling of the milk by the fruit acid aids rather than retards its digestion. The first thing that happens to milk when it reaches the stomach is that it is curdled. There is a special milk-curdling ferment in the stomach. A fruit juice more acid than the normal gastric juice of the stomach cannot be found. Lemon juice, one of the most acid of fruit juices, added to milk, renders the milk easier of digestion. We should guard against the sudden pouring of a large quantity of milk into the stomach, as this may form large, tough curds, difficult of digestion. If the milk is taken slowly, or mixed with the food as it enters the stomach, it will be converted into small curds." - Dr. George Thomason.

It is well to remember that fruit is practically predigested and quickly passes from the stomach unless combined with a food requiring prolonged stomach digestion. For this reason some may find it an advantage to eat the fruit part of their meal first, thus allowing it time to pass from the stomach before a great deal in the way of other food follows. Still others, as suggested above, find it better to eat their fruit alone, uncombined with other foods. Ordinarily, however, milk eaten on cereal, or taken in sips thus allowing it to enter the stomach slowly need interfere in no way with the taking of fruit at the same meal. It should be remembered that thorough mastication will prevent the unpleasant results which sometimes seem to follow the introduction of these unlike foods into the stomach. More often incomplete mastication rather than the non-ideal combination leads to fermentation.

Two Starches

Another rule in regard to combinations that has been given is the one that two starches should not be eaten at the same meal, or that bread must not be eaten with a starchy food. However, as so many of our foods contain starch, the following of this rule would be quite impractical. The principle underlying it obviously involves the question of the proper food balance. This having been looked after by the intelligent housewife in the planning of the meal, the question of whether or not two or more foods containing starch should be combined can be forgotten. It can readily be seen that a meal composed of rice and potatoes with white bread would be far from correct healthwise, but this mistake no one who understands the fundamentals of dietetics will make.

Two Kinds Of Fruit

Someone else raises the question, "Should two kinds of fruit be eaten at one meal, or is it healthful to eat stewed fruit and fresh fruit at the same time?" We know of no reason why these combinations are objectionable, and again we would emphasize the importance of getting away from petty rules and of intelligently planning the daily dietary, combining common sense and good judgment with a knowledge of scientific principles. Eat a few well selected foods at one meal. Do not overeat or undereat, but see that the foods are so prepared and combined in the daily ration that the necessary food elements in proper proportion and amount are supplied to the body.