Whether you’re a foodie or not, you’re probably familiar with the culinary concept of pairing certain foods and drinks, such as milk and cookies, or tomato soup and grilled cheese. But did you know there is more to food pairings than just flavour?
The way we combine foods can also have additional health benefits for our bodies, too. According to dieticians, certain staple foods can be paired to maximize their health benefits.
Here are some foods that dieticians say are better together:
Peanut butter sandwich and orange juice. A peanut butter sandwich on its own is great for protein, healthy fats and iron, but the type of iron found in peanut butter is not easily absorbed in our body. Vitamin C can help. When paired with a peanut butter sandwich, the vitamin C in orange juice helps our bodies better absorb iron from peanut butter and other plant-based foods like beans, lentils, tofu, leafy green veggies and grains.
Beans and rice. This is a staple and nutritious meal around the world. Proteins are made up of building blocks called amino acids. Beans contain the amino acids that rice is missing, and rice contains the amino acids that beans are missing. So, when paired together, beans and rice make up a complete protein that helps build muscle.
Salmon and edamame beans. This is a meal that can provide a nutrient boost. Salmon is one of the few foods that naturally contain vitamin D. Edamame beans contain calcium. When enjoyed together, the vitamin D from salmon increases calcium absorption from the edamame beans. As a bonus, the omega-3 fats in salmon keep your brain and heart healthy.
Tomatoes and olive oil. Those juicy red tomatoes are a great source of lycopene, which is a type of antioxidant possibly linked to a lower chance of heart disease and prostate cancer. Research shows that lycopene is better absorbed in our bodies when tomatoes are eaten with a healthy fat such as olive oil. Consider pairing tomatoes with olive oil on pizza or in a homemade pasta sauce.
