“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, Bible)

August is the month of celebrating friendships. You and your friends may have made plans to spend the day together, and some may have even bought friendship bands, too! Did you know that the concept of friendship bands dates back to the Stone Age when hunters and gatherers would exchange hand-made rings to symbolize a strong connection?

Friendship is all about strong connections and relationships. When friends come together as a unit, their strengths are amplified and they bring out the best in each other.

Just like us humans, foods too have ‘special friends’ which when combined not only improve the flavour of the meal, but also enhance nutrient absorption.

Food pairing/combining may seem like a new trend, but it’s actually an age-old tradition, practised from the time of our ancestors. Dal and Rice. Carrots with Peas. Peanut Butter and Jelly. Some combinations are simply better together!

How important is nutrient absorption?

Vitamins, minerals and other nutrients found in foods help in metabolic processes that are necessary for proper bodily functions. While maintaining a healthy diet is important, do we ever wonder what happens to the food once it reaches our stomachs? Food enters the stomach and is broken down by digestive enzymes. Waste is eliminated as it passes through, while nutrients are further absorbed in the small intestine.

Sadly, sometimes our gut doesn’t always function well. This may lead to poor absorption of nutrients and issues like exhaustion, mental fatigue, poor digestion, or skin disorders.

‘Food Besties’ that enhance nutrient absorption and are better together

Tomatoes and Olive Oil
It is an old Italian tradition to combine tomatoes with olive oil. Research reveals that when combined they boost each other’s health advantages. Lycopene, a potent antioxidant found in abundance in tomatoes, can help prevent conditions like cancer and heart disease. Lycopene is more easily absorbed when olive oil is used. E.g. home-made tomato-olive oil chutney.

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I am a Std XII Science student. After completion of 12th I want to pursue my education in culinary arts. Which are the best colleges in India for culinary arts? Do girls in India have a good scope for culinary arts?
A. Sharma

Culinary art is all about cooking. It covers topics like food preparation, cooking, presentation of food and serving etiquette. B.A. in Culinary Arts is a three-year degree programme, consisting of classroom lectures, cooking demonstration and practical sessions. Eligibility is 10+2 in any stream.

Graduates may find jobs in hotels, resorts, clubs, bars, restaurants and cafeterias. One may start as a trainee chef and later rise through ranks — Chef, Sous-Chef (second in command of kitchen) and finally Executive Chef.

Here are some culinary schools in India:

• Culinary Academy of India (Osmania University), Hyderabad (iactchefacademy.com)
• International Institute of Culinary Arts, New Delhi (chefiica.com)
• Indian Institute of Hotel Management & Culinary Arts, Hyderabad (iihmca.org)

All the institutes of hotel management also offer graduation in hotel management, in which you can specialize in Food & Beverage.

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