Some foods were made for each other.
Check any two foods in seconds and see whether they combine well, based on time-tested trophology and natural hygiene principles.
Do they combine?
Type any two foods, or whole categories, and get a plain answer with the reasoning behind it.
Your answer will appear here.
Good, Neutral or Poor, with the why.
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How food combining works
One simple observation sits behind it all: different foods digest at different speeds and in different conditions.
Foods have speeds
Melon is gone in minutes; a steak takes hours. Classical food combining groups foods by how, and how fast, they digest.
Some pairs clash
Starch and protein call for different digestive conditions. Quick sugars kept waiting behind slow foods tend to ferment.
Simple swaps help
If a pairing scores poorly, swap one half. Steak with greens instead of chips, and fruit on its own, go a long way.
The twelve food categories
Every food in the calculator belongs to one of these groups. Each keeps its colour throughout the site.
Melons
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew
Sweet fruits
Banana, dates, figs
Acid fruits
Orange, pineapple, strawberries
Sub-acid fruits
Apple, pear, peach
Non-starchy vegetables
Broccoli, spinach, lettuce
Starchy vegetables
Potato, carrot, pumpkin
Grains and starches
Rice, oats, bread
Proteins
Chicken, salmon, eggs
Fats and oils
Olive oil, butter, avocado
Nuts and seeds
Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds
Dairy
Cheese, yoghurt, milk
Legumes
Lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans
Common combinations
A few classics from both ends of the chart. Every body is different, so treat these as a starting point, not a rulebook.
Traditionally approved
- Salmon + broccoli protein with greens
- Rice + roasted vegetables starch with greens
- Avocado + grapefruit fat with acid fruit
- Almonds + orange nuts with acid fruit
- Bread + olive oil starch with fat
- Watermelon + cantaloupe melons together
Traditionally avoided
- Steak + chips protein with starch
- Melon + anything else melon dines alone
- Orange + banana acid with sweet fruit
- Cheese + ham two strong proteins
- Jam + toast sugar with starch
- Fruit + a cooked meal fruit goes first, alone
A gentle note
This site shares classical food-combining theory for interest and education. It is not medical advice, and it makes no medical claims. Digestion is personal: what suits one person may not suit another, so listen to your own body first.
If you have a health condition, dietary concerns or symptoms that worry you, please speak to a qualified health professional.