Zesty Lemon Bars - PCOS-Friendly Recipe
This Zesty Lemon Bars is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 123 calories, 2.53g protein, and 22.92g carbs per serving. Ready in 65 minutes. High in fiber (0.6g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 large lemon
- 1 large egg white
- 0.12 tsp salt
- 2 oz light butter
- 0.12 tsp baking power
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp confectioners' sugar
- 9 1/2 oz all-purpose flour
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350 °F (175 °C). Spray 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray.
- Mix 1 cup of the flour, 1/4 cup of sugar, and salt in bowl until well combined. Cut the butter into flour mixture until a crumbly dough forms.
- Press dough evenly into bottom of prepared baking pan. Bake until lightly golden (about 10-12 minutes). Cool crust completely.
- Whisk egg, egg white, and remaining 1/2 cup of sugar in bowl until combined. Grate zest and squeeze juice from lemon and add to egg mixture. Add baking powder and remaining 3 tablespoons of flour. Mix thoroughly.
- Pour liquid mixture over cooled crust.
- Bake until set and lightly browned on edges. This will take approximately 20 to 25 minutes.
- Cool completely and dust top with powdered sugar and cut into 16 squares.
How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management
Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this Zesty Lemon Bars contribute to your health goals:
- Egg: Contain choline which supports liver function and hormone metabolism
PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe
The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing protein-rich ingredients that help regulate appetite hormones (ghrelin and leptin). As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.
Meal Prep Tip: This Zesty Lemon Bars can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.
PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe
This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Lemon.
Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this Zesty Lemon Bars recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 123 calories per serving with 2.53g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 0.6g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 65 minutes total. Prep time is 15 minutes and cook time is 50 minutes. It makes 16 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 123 calories, 2.53g protein (8%), 22.92g carbs, 2.45g fat. Plus 0.6g fiber. PCOS meal plans typically aim for 30% protein, 35% fat, 35% carbs to support insulin sensitivity.
Yes, this recipe works well as a PCOS-friendly Baked. At 123 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Baked. Pair it with other PCOS-friendly foods throughout the day for balanced nutrition.
This recipe can be part of a structured PCOS meal plan. It makes 16 servings, making it great for meal prep. For a complete weekly plan tailored to your PCOS type, take our free 60-second quiz at pcosmealplanner.com/pcos-quiz to get a personalized 7-day meal plan.
Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Baked
Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.
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