This PCOS Broccoli Salad - Broccoli Sunflower Seed Salad is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 300 calories, 10g protein, and 25g carbs per serving. Ready in 15 minutes. High in fiber (7g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
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Chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces.
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Dice the red onion.
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In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and red onion.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the apple cider vinegar and honey.
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Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
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Season with salt and pepper to taste.
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Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 hours before serving.
Why this PCOS Broccoli Salad - Broccoli Sunflower Seed Salad works for PCOS
The 25g of carbohydrates here come paired with 7g 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 60% 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.
Lunch is where most PCOS meal plans either succeed or collapse. A meal like this PCOS Broccoli Salad - Broccoli Sunflower Seed Salad that combines adequate protein, fibre-rich carbs, and fat keeps blood sugar stable for the rest of the workday and reduces the late-afternoon energy crash that drives sugar cravings around 3-4pm.
At 200mg of sodium per serving, this PCOS Broccoli Salad - Broccoli Sunflower Seed Salad fits comfortably within the 1500-2300mg daily target most cardiology and PCOS guidance agrees on. Lower-sodium meals are useful for women with PCOS who also experience bloating or who are managing blood pressure alongside metabolic concerns.
PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe
This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Broccoli, Sunflower Seeds.
Broccoli is a highly nutritious vegetable that provides numerous health benefits, especially for individuals managing PCOS. This cruciferous vegetable is rich in essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. But what makes broccoli particularly beneficial for those with PCOS? Low Glycemic Index (GI) Broccoli has a low glycemic index, making it an excellent choice for maintaining stable blood sugar levels. This is particularly important for individuals with PCOS, as it helps manage insul...
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this PCOS Broccoli Salad - Broccoli Sunflower Seed Salad recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 300 calories per serving with 10g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 7g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 15 minutes total. Prep time is 15 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 300 calories, 10g protein (13%), 25g carbs, 20g fat. Plus 7g 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 Lunch. At 300 calories, it fits within typical PCOS meal plan targets for Lunch. 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.
Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Lunch
Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.
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