Snack: Super Foods Salad

The salad tastes not only super nourishing, but is also bursting with flavor. Boost the flavor even more by adding 4 tsp dried cranberries, 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds or a diced orange. Or choose baby arugula for the greens.

This recipe includes superfoods such as:

Sunflower Seeds, Kale, Lemon

Health benefits of Super Foods Salad

Sunflower seeds are an excellent food for PCOS as they are packed with vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine). Just one cup of sunflower seeds provides 30% of the recommended daily intake for vitamin B6. Sunflower seeds are also loaded with two other important of PCOS busting minerals: zinc and magnesium. Kale is an excellent source of calcium, which has an important role in egg maturation and follicle development in the ovaries. Lemons can help to prevent oxidative damage to the body, which women with PCOS are often susceptible to. Lemons are also rich in vitamin C, flavonoids, and other antioxidants. They can potentially support the immune system and have other health benefits. Lemons also have a low glycemic index, so they should not cause a rapid rise in blood sugar when consumed in natural form.

Ingredients

1/2 cup quinoa
6 oz (1 cup) shelled edamame 

Cilantro-Avocado Dressing
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 lemon, juice only (about 2 Tbsp)
2 Tbsp orange juice, preferably fresh 
1 avocado (use 1/4 in the dressing and dice the remaining 3/4 for salad)
1/8 cup coarsely chopped cilantro, or use parsley
1/4 tsp salt
1 clove garlic, peeled and halved

1 head (6 oz) Boston, butter, or Bibb lettuce, or use kale, baby arugula, or spring mix, chopped or torn, if necessary 
1/2 orange bell pepper, cored and diced
2 Tbsp unsalted sunflower seeds, or use pecans or pistachios

Instructions

Rinse and cook the quinoa in 1 cup water for about 10 minutes or until the water is just absorbed. Fluff it and remove it from the heat. 
Meanwhile, cook the edamame for 5 minutes in about 4 cups of boiling water.
In a small food processor or blender, puree the oil, lemon and orange juices, 1/4 avocado, cilantro, salt and garlic. 
In a large salad bowl, combine the lettuce, bell pepper, quinoa, edamame, remaining avocado and sunflower seeds. Pour the dressing over everything and toss gently. Serve immediately.
Do Ahead Or Delegate: Cook the quinoa and the edamame, juice the orange, chop the cilantro, peel the garlic, prepare the dressing and dice the bell pepper.
Choices: 1 Starch, 1 Nonstarchy Vegetable, 1 Lean Protein, 2 1/2 Fat

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