Orange and Walnut Salad - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Orange and Walnut Salad
Prep: 28 min
Servings: 8
Lunch

Nutrition per Serving

135 Calories
2g Protein
13g Carbs
9g Fat
Serve this light salad as a healthy option at your holiday gathering this year. It'll provide you with some fresh fruit and veggies - two things that are often missing from the typical holiday spread!

Ingredients

  • Salad
  • 8 cups mixed salad greens
  • 2 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 large oranges, peeled and sectioned
  • Vinaigrette
  • 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • ¼ cup walnut oil
  • Sea salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste*
  • ¼ cup walnut pieces

Instructions

  1. Place the greens on a platter. Top with the carrots, onion, and oranges.
  2. For the vinaigrette, whisk together the orange and lemon juices, honey, and mustard. Slowly add the oil in a thin stream, whisking constantly.
  3. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad. Add salt and pepper to taste, and top with the walnuts.
  4. Dietitian Tip: If you can’t find walnut oil, you can also swap in olive oil to make the dressing.
  5. *Note: The nutrition facts above do not include any added salt.

How This Recipe Supports PCOS Management

Understanding the nutritional profile of what you eat is a powerful step in managing PCOS. Here is how the key ingredients in this Orange and Walnut Salad contribute to your health goals:

  • Walnut: Studies show walnuts may improve lipid profiles in women with PCOS
  • Onion: Support cardiovascular health and blood sugar regulation
  • Carrot: Provide antioxidants that support overall metabolic health
  • Honey: Use in moderation as part of a balanced PCOS diet

PCOS Diet Principles in This Recipe

The PCOS diet focuses on three core principles: reducing inflammation, managing insulin resistance, and supporting hormonal balance. Every recipe in our collection is evaluated against these principles. This recipe excels in providing healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that support cell membrane health and hormone synthesis, and nutrient-dense vegetables that provide essential vitamins and minerals for metabolic health. As part of a balanced PCOS meal plan, we recommend pairing recipes like this with a variety of nutrient-dense foods throughout the week to ensure you are meeting all your micronutrient needs.

Meal Prep Tip: This Orange and Walnut Salad can be prepared ahead and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Meal prepping is one of the most effective strategies for sticking to a PCOS-friendly diet, as it removes the temptation to reach for processed convenience foods when time is short.

PCOS-Friendly Foods in This Recipe

This recipe contains the following foods that may benefit PCOS management: Lemon, Honey.

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. Honey, often hailed as a superfood, possesses a wealth of nutritional benefits that make it a valuable addition to a balan...

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