PCOS-Friendly
Can I Eat Barley with PCOS?
Yes. Yes, Barley is a PCOS-friendly food. It can support blood sugar regulation, reduce inflammation, or promote hormonal balance when included as part of a balanced PCOS diet. Get a personalized meal plan with Barley built in using the PCOS Meal Planner.
Barley and PCOS: What You Need to Know
Barley is about the best grain a woman with PCOS can eat. It is low in calories and has the lowest GI of all grains. Low-GI grains such as barley take much longer to digest and create a slow, steady rise in blood glucose and insulin levels.
As mentioned before on Fertility Chef, low-GI foods reduce cravings. If possible, try and find hulled barley as it is the most nutrient dense of all types of barley.
How Barley Helps with PCOS
A well-planned PCOS diet focuses on foods that regulate blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and support hormonal balance. Barley contributes to these goals.
For the best results, include Barley in balanced meals with protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. This combination stabilises blood sugar and supports sustained energy, both critical for PCOS.
Knowing Barley is good for PCOS is one thing. Actually eating it consistently is another. The PCOS Meal Planner builds a personalised weekly plan that includes foods like Barley automatically, so you do not have to think about it.
How to Include Barley in a PCOS Diet
- Meal prep it: Prepare Barley in advance. Having PCOS-friendly foods ready makes sticking to your goals easier.
- Pair with protein: Balanced meals with lean protein support blood sugar regulation and sustained energy.
- Try new recipes: Check out the PCOS-friendly recipes below for ways to include Barley in your meals.
- Track how you feel: Everyone responds differently. Pay attention to energy, bloating, and mood after eating Barley.
Stop guessing what to eat.
Get a personalised 7-day PCOS meal plan that includes Barley in 60 seconds.
Build My Meal Plan
You Know Barley Is Good for PCOS. Now What?
Checking individual foods is useful, but it does not solve the real problem: what do I actually eat this week?
The women who manage PCOS long-term do not rely on food lists. They have a system that plans meals automatically around their symptoms, preferences, and schedule.
1
Take the 60-second quiz
Tell us your PCOS type, food preferences, and schedule.
2
Get your personalised meal plan
A full week of meals (including Barley) designed for your PCOS.
3
Stop guessing, start managing
No willpower needed. Just follow the plan.
Build My Meal Plan
Free. Personalised. No signup required to start.
Recipes Containing Barley
You can try other grains in this soup too like whole spelt, farro or wheatberries.
190 cal
Fat: 5
Protein: 10
Carbs: 26
You can add cooked chicken or shrimp to this dish and make it a meal!
190 cal
Fat: 3.5
Protein: 9
Carbs: 32
With our tips for bulk cooking barley in advance, this soup can be a quick and easy weeknight meal. If you?re tight on time, pick up a pre-chopped blend of onion, carrots and celery.
130 cal
Fat: 3
Protein: 15
Carbs: 12
It?s a good luck tradition to eat black-eyed peas on New Year?s Day. Why stop there? Enjoy this hearty take on Hoppin? John any day of the year!
190 cal
Fat: 5
Protein: 12
Carbs: 25
A fun to make, hearty soup with a few twists.
187 cal
Fat: 3.75
Protein: 10.1
Carbs: 29.09
A yummy vegetarian bean and barley soup with little fat.
99 cal
Fat: 0.58
Protein: 4.58
Carbs: 20.28
A delicious and filling vegetarian soup.
164 cal
Fat: 0.72
Protein: 9.89
Carbs: 31.87
A great hearty soup with swiss chard with carrots, celery, tomatoes, barley and navy beans.
136 cal
Fat: 0.83
Protein: 7.03
Carbs: 27.97
Quick, easy and hearty soup with chicken, vegetables, barley and pasta.
96 cal
Fat: 1.75
Protein: 8.29
Carbs: 11.95
A very yummy, vegetarian stew that is easy to prepare and filling.
243 cal
Fat: 2.46
Protein: 8.23
Carbs: 48.71