This Cheesy Zucchini Gratin with Gruyere and Thyme is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 250 calories, 12g protein, and 15g carbs per serving. Ready in 40 minutes. High in fiber (2g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
-
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
-
Slice the zucchinis into thin rounds.
-
In a baking dish, arrange the zucchini slices and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and thyme.
-
Drizzle with olive oil and top with grated Gruyere cheese.
-
Bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
-
Serve warm.
Why this Cheesy Zucchini Gratin with Gruyere and Thyme works for PCOS
At 15g of carbohydrates per serving, this Cheesy Zucchini Gratin with Gruyere and Thyme is on the lower-carb end, which suits women with PCOS who have confirmed insulin resistance or who notice strong post-meal energy crashes. Pair lower-carb meals like this with a generous portion of non-starchy vegetables to keep fibre intake up.
Fat makes up about 54% 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.
At 300mg of sodium per serving, this Cheesy Zucchini Gratin with Gruyere and Thyme 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.
You Have a Recipe. But Do You Have a Full Week?
One great recipe is a start. A complete PCOS meal plan is a system. Here is how to go from one meal to a full week of eating that supports your hormones.
Free. Personalized. No signup required to start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this Cheesy Zucchini Gratin with Gruyere and Thyme recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 250 calories per serving with 12g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 2g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 40 minutes total. Prep time is 10 minutes and cook time is 30 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 250 calories, 12g protein (19%), 15g carbs, 15g fat. Plus 2g 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 250 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.
Cook Another PCOS-Friendly Dinner
Each recipe you add to your rotation makes PCOS management easier. Variety keeps you from getting bored and quitting.
Comments
Register or log in to add a comment