5 Food Combos To Get More Nutrition Out Of Every Meal (2024)

Eating healthy foods is pretty simple when you follow the Michael Pollan credo of "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."

But what if I told you that you can maximize the nourishment you're getting out of the whole plant foods you're already eating by creating a few food synergies along the way?

Food synergies are what happens when two or more foods are combined in a meal that make certain nutrients more easily absorbed and used by your body.

In a recent class at the Natural Gourmet Institute, I learned about the different types of food couplings for bioavailability then got in the kitchen to test them out. It turns out nutrient absorption is not only great for your body on a cellular level, but it's also delicious.

One of the coolest things about the study of food synergies is that a lot of these pairings are found in traditional cuisines, as if they're inherent or instinctual to us as humans.

Here are five totally tasty food synergies to think about the next time you're planning a meal, plus recipes to get you started.

Iron + Vitamin C

Animal sources of iron are more easily absorbed in the body, but when plant-based sources of iron are eaten with vitamin C, the iron is more potent and readily available to the body, making this combo especially great for vegans and vegetarians.

Recipe ideas:

Fat + Vitamins A, D, E, and K (Fat-Soluble Vitamins)

Fat-soluble vitamins (which include vitamins A, D, E, and K) are stored in fat within the body, as opposed to water (like vitamins B and C are). In order for the body to use and properly store these vitamins, they should be accompanied by a little bit of fat.

Recipe ideas:

Fermented Foods + B Vitamins + Minerals

Probiotic-rich fermented foods aid in the absorption of B vitamins and key minerals and promote healthy digestion.

Recipe ideas:

Turmeric + Black Pepper

The inflammation-fighting property of turmeric, called curcumin, is enhanced and more readily absorbed when combined with black pepper. In fact, some studies suggest that many phytochemicals (the antioxidants that give foods their colors and aromas) are more accessible to the body when combined with black pepper.

Recipe ideas:

Calcium + Magnesium + Protein

These three nutrients all add up to great bone health and could protect against possible fractures down the line.

Recipe ideas:

Recipe: Kimchi Tempeh Dumplings

Makes 2 dozen dumplings

Ingredients

Ingredients for dipping sauce

Preparation

1. Steam tempeh for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool, and crumble.

2. Sauté scallions, kale, and mushrooms until soft, about 3 to 5 minutes over medium heat. Put in a bowl; add tempeh. Add chopped kimchi and blend. Add egg, sesame oil, ginger, shoyu, and pepper. Mix well.

3. Put a steamer basket lined in collards or cabbage in a large pot with water.

4. Place 1 tablespoon filling in wonton wrapper; moisten edges and pinch together to form a purse or fold in half to form a half moon.

5. Steam for 3 to 4 minutes.

6. Serve with dipping sauce.