PCOS Italian Paleo Recipes: Dinner - Spaghetti Squash Bolognese
PCOS-Friendly Dinner

PCOS Italian Paleo Recipes: Dinner - Spaghetti Squash Bolognese - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

A hearty and healthy Italian dinner featuring spaghetti squash and a flavorful bolognese sauce.

75 minutes
2 servings
350 cal / serving

This PCOS Italian Paleo Recipes: Dinner - Spaghetti Squash Bolognese is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 350 calories, 20g protein, and 25g carbs per serving. Ready in 75 minutes. High in fiber (5g), which supports insulin sensitivity.

Nutrition per Serving

350 Calories
20g Protein
25g Carbs
15g Fat
This recipe includes a grocery list of spaghetti squash, ground turkey, onions, garlic, carrots, celery, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and spices. The Glycemic Index (GI) of spaghetti squash is low, making it a great choice for those with PCOS.

Ingredients

Servings 2

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. Place the halves cut side down on a baking sheet and roast for 30-40 minutes.

  2. While the squash is roasting, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground turkey and cook until browned.

  3. Add the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery to the skillet and cook until vegetables are softened.

  4. Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 15-20 minutes.

  5. Once the squash is done, use a fork to scrape out the spaghetti-like strands. Top with the bolognese sauce and serve.

This PCOS-friendly recipe is packed with nutrients that are beneficial for managing PCOS symptoms. The spaghetti squash is a low GI food that helps regulate blood sugar levels. The ground turkey provides lean protein, while the vegetables add fiber and a variety of vitamins and minerals. The recipe is easy to prepare and offers a comforting and satisfying meal that can help you feel empowered and in control of your health.

Why this PCOS Italian Paleo Recipes: Dinner - Spaghetti Squash Bolognese works for PCOS

This PCOS Italian Paleo Recipes: Dinner - Spaghetti Squash Bolognese delivers 20g of protein per serving, which sits in the moderate range for a PCOS-friendly meal. If you find yourself hungry within 2-3 hours, pair this dish with an additional protein source (Greek yogurt, a boiled egg, or a small portion of fish) to push the meal closer to the 25-35g per-meal target most PCOS dietitians recommend.

The 25g of carbohydrates here come paired with 5g of fibre, which slows glucose absorption and produces a flatter post-meal blood sugar curve. Fibre is one of the most under-rated tools for PCOS: it feeds gut bacteria that produce short-chain fatty acids linked to improved insulin sensitivity, and it modestly lowers circulating androgens by binding bile acids in the gut.

Fat makes up about 39% of calories in this dish. Dietary fat plays a load-bearing role in PCOS because sex hormones are synthesised from cholesterol, and very-low-fat eating can suppress hormone production over time. The 2023 PCOS guideline does not specify a strict fat target, but most clinicians recommend at least 25-35% of calories from a mix of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and saturated sources.

Evening meals affect overnight insulin and morning blood sugar more than most women realise. Keeping dinner protein-forward and finishing eating at least 2-3 hours before bed gives your body time to clear glucose before the overnight fast, which improves morning fasting insulin readings.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, this PCOS Italian Paleo Recipes: Dinner - Spaghetti Squash Bolognese recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 350 calories per serving with 20g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 5g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.

This recipe takes about 75 minutes total. Prep time is 15 minutes and cook time is 60 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.

Per serving: 350 calories, 20g protein (23%), 25g carbs, 15g fat. Plus 5g 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 Dinner. At 350 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Dinner. 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 2 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.

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