This Cervical Health Supporting Salad - Folate-Rich Spinach and Chickpea Salad is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 350 calories, 18g protein, and 40g carbs per serving. Ready in 10 minutes. High in fiber (12g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
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Rinse and drain the chickpeas.
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Wash and chop the spinach, carrot, and cucumber.
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In a large bowl, combine the spinach, chickpeas, carrot, and cucumber.
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Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice.
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Season with salt and pepper.
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Toss well and serve.
Why this Cervical Health Supporting Salad - Folate-Rich Spinach and Chickpea Salad works for PCOS
This Cervical Health Supporting Salad - Folate-Rich Spinach and Chickpea Salad delivers 18g 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 40g of carbohydrates here come paired with 12g 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.
Lunch is where most PCOS meal plans either succeed or collapse. A meal like this Cervical Health Supporting Salad - Folate-Rich Spinach and Chickpea 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.
PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe
This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Spinach, Carrot.
Spinach is a nutrient-dense leafy green vegetable that is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, as well as iron, magnesium, and antioxidants. The high iron content in spinach helps combat anemia, which is common in women with PCOS. Magnesium helps reduce inflammation and improve insulin sensitivity. The antioxidants in spinach can help lower oxidative stress, which is beneficial for managing PCOS symptoms. Including spinach in your diet can support overall health and well-being. Carrots are an excellent...
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this Cervical Health Supporting Salad - Folate-Rich Spinach and Chickpea Salad recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 350 calories per serving with 18g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 12g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 10 minutes total. Prep time is 10 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 350 calories, 18g protein (21%), 40g carbs, 15g fat. Plus 12g 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 350 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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