To those who have not made this subject a study the following hints may be of practical use, though in many things it is next to impossible to lay down definite rules.[44]
1. Fruits and vegetables should not, as a rule, be eaten together—that is, at the same meal. If they are so eaten, persons with feeble digestive organs will suffer.
2. If vegetables are eaten, the noonday meal is the best time to take them, two or three varieties being quite sufficient. Tomatoes do well with vegetables, grains, or meats; but they should not, as a rule, be eaten with fruits.
3. The Irish potato seems to be an exception among vegetables; it is so unaggressive in its nature that it seldom quarrels with anything. It may therefore be eaten (by most persons) with either fruits or vegetables; and it always does well with grains.
4. Fruits and cereals are particularly suited to the morning and evening meals; and very little other food is required.
5. A good rule, when suppers are eaten, is to make the meal of bread and fruit only, these being taken in limited quantities and at an early hour.
6. Fruits, if eaten raw, should be ripe, and of good quality; and persons with feeble stomachs digest them more easily at the beginning of the meal; this is particularly true when warm fruits make a part of the repast.
7. Fruits, raw or cooked, may be eaten at dinner, provided no vegetable (unless it be the potato) be taken. But if raw, they should be eaten first, particularly if there are warm foods to follow.
8. Some persons cannot digest certain kinds of raw fruits for supper, or late in the day; let them take these on sitting down to the breakfast-table; or the first thing at dinner, unless there are vegetables at this meal.
9. If meats “must be” eaten—take them at the noonday meal, with or without vegetables; and in cold weather, rather than warm.