PCOS Recipes

Make sure you have go-to recipes for healthy eating

Nutrient dense foods are the way to go when thinking about PCOS recipes. Whole foods, will promote gut health, regulate blood sugar, and therefore help with PCOS management. What I've found that has worked the best for me is eliminating many processed foods, and finding delicious recipes so cooking at home is something to look forward to.

I found that Whole30 has been a really successful way to think about eating (eating until full, not counting carbohydrates), I've written about it here. While I'm no longer strict about it, I still use what I learned from my month and a half of it. I'm even planning on doing another round or 2 in 2023.

My plate these days is filled with lean protein sources, cruciferous vegetables and my household goes through olive oil at a very rapid rate. Sometimes it's stir fry, or almond flour chicken nuggets, but finding a few reliable recipes is critical to those nights when you're fighting being hangry.

I think there's something to be said about knowing how your body reacts to certain triggers, so your PCOS friendly foods might be different than another woman's.

I've found I'm sensitive to dairy (hello zits), and I try to limit gluten because of needing to be inherently low carb. There are arguments around the chronic inflammation caused by gluten, and I have found my weight loss has been more successful when I've cut it out. But, I'm not as strict about it as I could be.

I also try to be sugar free (it can be hard, especially around the holidays), but eating clean has helped me begin healing PCOS a more natural way.

Women with PCOS have it hard, but finding what you like to eat, that will reduce inflammation is the first step.

My usual shopping list includes: chicken, eggs, seeds, rich sources of protein, extra virgin olive oil, and brown rice. When you eat healthily, your body responds.

Fill up your grocery begs with lots of whole foods, and it’s ok if you need to pick up items for the rest of the family (ahem bagels).

Bye to irregular periods, excessive hair growth, and blood sugar issues. Reducing inflammation is key to regulating sex hormones, and diet is of the utmost importance for PCOS. Don't worry about the calories and weight to start. There are other ways to sense how your body is reacting to the changes you're making.

While I list some recipes on this website, I also utilize other bloggers' incredible resources for meal plans. Here are a few that I love, and hope you find their resources helpful too.

Blog Recipe Resources:

Bojon Gourmet

Alanna’s soups are some of my absolute favorites

A friend years ago introduced me to Alanna's blog (Bojon is "No job" backwards!), I even had an email chain going back and forth for a while with her. Alanna has gorgeous photographs, and her recipes are gluten and dairy free.

She even has a cookbook which you can buy on Amazon called the Alternative Baker.

My favorite recipe of hers (it's not Whole30 approved due to the lentils), but let me tell you it is so delicious is her curried red lentil and kale soup. It is incredibly delicious, perfect for winter and you can pack it full of leafy greens and sweet potato.

If Alanna's recipes are part of my PCOS diet, I think I'll be ok.

Defined Dish

Pot roast and other goodies are on the Defined Dish site

Another friend of mine turned me onto the Defined Dish when I started Whole30 (can you tell I spend a lot of time talking to friends about food!). Alex, the face behind Defined Dish also found Whole30 although much earlier than me and her work has a lot of compliant Whole30 recipes.

The thing about our diagnosis, is you spend so much time researching weight gain, insulin resistance, and polycystic ovarian syndrome when you could be enjoying yourself cooking Alex's pot roast (gluten free), apple cider roasted vegetables, and all the while improving your PCOS symptoms.

Even if you're not going gluten, or dairy free, her food is delightful and worth checking out.

Minimalist Baker

If you’re looking for some great baked goods that are gluten and dairy free look no further.

Minimalist Baker was started in 2012 by a woman named Dana (!). It's now run by a team of people, but if your in the market for gluten and dairy free baking, it's a tremendous resources.

There are a lot of recipes to choose from, many are dairy free, and many are pcos friendly recipes (you may just have to sub out some of the sugar). What's great about finding recipes that are most of the way to being pcos recipes, you can modify as you need to get them more compliant.

I'm a sucker for gingersnaps, soups and really all things home cooking so make sure to peruse their amazing blog for recipes that fit your needs.

Cookbook Resources

Sometimes you just have to stick with a good old fashioned cookbook resource. I have a few that I've used a lot that if you're in the market, might be worth looking into (that also make for a great gift). Besides the Bojon Gourmet Alternative Baker, mentioned above, some of my favorites include:

Whole30 Slow Cooker

Whole30 Slow Cooker is a game changer

Slow cookers are a literal game changer. I go to the office all day, and it's really hard to plan for dinner. Slow cooking food has literally changed our lives. We were loaned this book when we started Whole30 in 2022, and found a handful of delicious recipes we kept going back to. In particular, there is a Spiced coconut chicken with cumin cauliflower rice dish that was actually TO DIE FOR.

We went back so many times to this book, and I'd highly recommend it if you're in need of some inspiration.

Love Real Food

Love Real Food is an incredible vegetarian cookbook.

I absolutely love this vegetarian cookbook. Kathryne Taylor's book (based off of her blog Cookie + Kate) is gorgeous, it does include grains and cheese so if you're currently following a more rigorous diet, it might not be the best book, but you will get your fill of veggies, I promise.

The book is lovely, but you will also have to complement with some more protein most likely. It's a great base though, and worth checking out!

A roommate of mine had this book in graduate school, and I eyed it so much. Once we left and I moved into my own place (pre-diagnosis), it was one of the first things I bought for my new apartment.

If for nothing else, look at it for the photography!