Michael asks…
Food combining chart?
Is there a food combining chart that will help me on the alkaline diet?
Question: Since deciding to start on the alkaline diet, I have been confused about what foods I can eat together and what foods I cannot combine. Is there any sort of a food combining chart that will help me put together meals that will keep me on plan for maximum effect from this diet?
health answers:
Absolutely! There are food combining charts readily available to help all followers of the alkaline diet. Some charts can be found for free online and others can be located in books and literature dedicated to the alkaline diet. While it seems complicated, the combinations of foods that can be eaten on the alkaline diet is actually pretty simple. For smoother digestion, vegetables with low- or no-starch may be combined with grains, starchy vegetables or proteins separately. Proteins like meat and beans and starchy vegetables, including potatoes and corn, may not be combined with grains like buckwheat, quinoa and millet. When considering fruits, melon may never be combined with anything else. Sweet fruits like bananas and dates can be eaten with sub-acid fruits, such as sweet cherries, apples and apricots. Acid fruits like oranges, lemons and limes, can be eaten with sub-acid fruits but not with other sweet fruits. Find a full food combining chart for a full list of foods that fall into each category, and never be afraid to refer to it when planning meals and snacks on the alkaline diet.
George asks…
substitution chart how exact is it?
Ingredient
Amount
Substitution
Allspice 1 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and 1/4 teaspoon cloves
Arrowroot starch 1 teaspoon1 tablespoon flour, OR 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Baking mix 1 cup1 cup pancake mix OR 1 cup Easy Biscuit Mixture
Baking powder1 teaspoon1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar OR 1/4 teaspoon baking soda plus 1/2 cup buttermilk (decrease liquid in recipe by 1/2 cup)
Beer 1 cup 1 cup nonalcoholic beer OR 1 cup chicken broth
Brandy 1/4 cup 1 teaspoon imitation brandy extract plus enough water to make 1/4 cup
Bread crumbs 1 cup 1 cup cracker crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats
Broth: beef or chicken1 cup 1 bouillon cube plus 1 cup boiling water OR 1 tablespoon soy sauce plus enough water to make 1 cup OR 1 cup vegetable broth
Brown sugar 1 cup, packed1 cup white sugar plus 1/4 cup molasses and decrease the liquid in recipe by 1/4 cup OR 1 cup white sugar OR 1 1/4 cups confectioners’ sugar
Butter (salted) 1 cup1 cup margarine OR 1 cup shortening plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil plus 1/2 teaspoon salt OR 7/8 cup lard plus 1/2 teaspoon salt
Butter (unsalted)1 cup1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 7/8 cup lard
Buttermilk1 cup1 cup yogurt OR 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup
Cheddar cheese1 cup shredded 1 cup shredded Colby cheddar OR 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Chervil1 tablespoon chopped fresh1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Chicken base1 tablespoon1 cup canned or homemade chicken broth or stock. Reduce liquid in recipe by 1 cup
Chocolate(semisweet) 1 ounce 1 (1-ounce) square of unsweetened chocolate plus 4 teaspoons sugar OR 1 ounce semisweet chocolate chips plus 1 teaspoon shortening
Chocolate (unsweetened) 1 ounce 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa plus 1 tablespoon shortening or vegetable oil
Cocoa 1/4 cup 1 (1-ounce) square unsweetened chocolate
Condensed cream of mushroom soup 1 (10.75-ounce) can 1 (10.75-ounce) can condensed cream of celery, cream of chicken, OR golden mushroom soup
Corn syrup 1 cup 1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup honey OR 1 cup light treacle syrup
Cottage cheese 1 cup 1 cup farmer’s cheese OR 1 cup ricotta cheese
Cracker crumbs 1 cup
1 cup bread crumbs OR 1 cup matzo meal OR 1 cup ground oats
Cream (half and half) 1 cup 7/8 cup milk plus 1 tablespoon butter
Cream (heavy) 1 cup 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup butter
Cream (light) 1 cup 1 cup evaporated milk OR 3/4 cup milk plus 3 tablespoons butter
Cream (whipped) 1 cup 1 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
Cream cheese 1 cup 1 cup pureed cottage cheese OR 1 cup plain yogurt, strained overnight in a cheesecloth
Cream of tartar 1 teaspoon 2 teaspoons lemon juice or vinegar
Crème fraiche 1 cup Combine 1 cup of heavy cream and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Let stand for 6 hours at room temperature
Egg 1 whole (3 tablespoons or 1.7 oz) 2 1/2 tablespoons of powdered egg substitute plus 2 1/2 tablespoons water OR 1/4 cup liquid egg substitute OR 1/4 cup silken tofu pureed OR 3 tablespoons mayonnaise OR half a banana mashed with 1/2 teaspoon baking powder OR 1 tablespoon powdered flax seed soaked in 3 tablespoons water
Evaporated milk 1 cup 1 cup light cream
Farmer’s cheese8 ounces 8 ounces dry cottage cheese OR 8 ounces creamed cottage cheese, drained
Fats for baking 1 cup 1 cup applesauce OR 1 cup fruit puree
Flour–Bread 1 cup 1 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 teaspoon wheat gluten (available at health food stores & some supermarkets)
Flour–Cake 1 cup 1 cup all-purpose flour minus 2 tablespoons
Flour–Self-Rising1 cup 7/8 cup all-purpose flour plus 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt
Garlic 1 clove 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder OR 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic OR 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt–reduce salt in recipe
Gelatin 1 tablespoon, granulated 2 teaspoons agar agar
Ginger–dry 1 teaspoon2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger
Ginger–fresh1 teaspoon, minced 1/2 teaspoon ground dried ginger
Green onion1/2 cup , chopped1/2 cup chopped onion, OR 1/2 cup chopped leek OR 1/2 cup chopped shallots
Hazelnuts 1 cup whole 1 cup macadamia nuts OR 1 cup almonds
Herbs–fresh1 tablespoon chopped fresh 1 teaspoon (chopped or whole leaf) dried herbs
Herring 8 ounces8 ounces of sardines
Honey1 cup1 1/4 cup white sugar plus 1/3 cup water OR 1 cup corn syrup OR 1 cup light treacle syrup
Hot pepper sauce1 teaspoon3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper plus 1 teaspoon vinegar
Ketchup1 cup1 cup tomato sauce plus 1 teaspoon vinegar plus 1 tablespoon sugar
Lard1 cup1 cup shortening OR 7/8 cup vegetable oil OR 1 cup butter
Lemon grass 2 fresh stalks 1 tablespoon lemon zest
Lemon juice1 teaspoon1/2 teaspoon vinegar OR 1 teaspoon white wine OR 1 teaspoon lime juice
Lemon zest1 teaspoon1/2 teaspoon lemon extract OR 2 tablespoons lemon juice
Li
health answers:
No substitution chart is going to be perfect. One thing I noticed on this one that I disagree with is using 1 cup pancake mix for 1 cup baking mix. I think of Bisquick (baking mix) as having a lot more rising properties than pancake mix would have. I also disagree with some of the other substitutions as far as whether I’d like the end result if I used their substitute, but the quantities look ok.
Ken asks…
I’m hypoglycemic and dieting. How can I keep my blood sugar up while limiting calories?
Whenever I get symptoms (irritability, headaches, dizziness…) I always crave sugar, and I know logically that I’m supposed to eat other things instead (carbs with fat and protein at once) but I have trouble thinking of tiny snacks that involve all those things and are quick to make.
I’m trying to eat small things often, which is helpful, but it’s usually a matter of grabbing an apple, or an oatmeal bar, and these things don’t combine the three types of food. Good for dieting, bad for hypoglycemia.
Dieting would be so much easier if avoiding food didn’t make me grouchy and sick…
(Oh yeah, FYI, I’m 24 pounds above my “healthy weight”, according to the body mass index charts. So the dieting isn’t crazy. 😉
health answers:
Eat more protein: boil a dozen eggs and keep them handy, eat peanutbutter, keep a package of string cheese handy, eat a scoop of cottage cheese, eat a handful of nuts.
You’re probably both hypoglycemic and “sugar sensitive” which is why you crave sweets and feel bad after you eat them due to your specific body chemistry.
It may not be low blood sugar that makes you irritable and dizzy but it could be sugar withdrawals- you feel bad, you crave sugar, and you take a “hit”.
The best thing to do is to wean off all sweets and simple carbs first, balance your blood sugar and then worry about dieting. Trying to limit calories, eat sweets and manage your blood sugar is just going to make you feel bad for as long as you’re doing it.
Also, once you get your sugar under control, you’ll easily lose weight.
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