This Lemon Garlic Kale Salad with Pumpkin Seeds is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 250 calories, 10g protein, and 20g carbs per serving. Ready in 10 minutes. High in fiber (3g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine the kale, lemon juice, and garlic.
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Drizzle with olive oil and toss to combine.
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Season with salt and pepper.
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Sprinkle with pumpkin seeds before serving.
Why this Lemon Garlic Kale Salad with Pumpkin Seeds works for PCOS
At 20g of carbohydrates per serving, this Lemon Garlic Kale Salad with Pumpkin Seeds 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.
Lunch is where most PCOS meal plans either succeed or collapse. A meal like this Lemon Garlic Kale Salad with Pumpkin Seeds 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 Lemon Garlic Kale Salad with Pumpkin Seeds 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: Kale.
Kale is an excellent source of calcium, which has an important role in egg maturation and follicle development in the ovaries.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, this Lemon Garlic Kale Salad with Pumpkin Seeds recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 250 calories per serving with 10g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 3g 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: 250 calories, 10g protein (16%), 20g carbs, 15g fat. Plus 3g 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 250 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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