Garden Harvest Soup - PCOS-Friendly Recipe
This Garden Harvest Soup is a PCOS-friendly recipe with 95 calories, 3g protein, and 13g carbs per serving. Ready in 34 minutes. High in fiber (4g), which supports insulin sensitivity.
Nutrition per Serving
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 cups chopped uncooked vegetables (such as any combination of bell peppers, carrots, green beans, yellow summer squash, or zucchini)
- ¼ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend, crumbled
- 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh spinach leaves, coarsely chopped
- 1 tablespoon shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat, swirling to coat the bottom. Cook the 2 cups chopped vegetables, onion, and seasoning blend for 8 to 10 minutes, or until tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. (If the vegetables get dry or start to scorch, add a little water to the saucepan.)
- Stir in the broth. Increase the heat to medium high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes so the flavors blend, stirring occasionally. Stir in the spinach. Sprinkle each serving with Parmesan cheese.
- Tips: Chop firmer vegetables, such as carrots, into smaller pieces than more tender vegetables, such as zucchini, so all the vegetables will cook at about the same rate. If you want this dish to be vegetarian, be sure to use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
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 Garden Harvest Soup contribute to your health goals:
- Chicken: Protein-rich meals help manage insulin resistance common in PCOS
- Spinach: Magnesium may help improve insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS
- Olive oil: Anti-inflammatory properties make it especially beneficial for PCOS
- Bell pepper: Vitamin C supports adrenal function and may help manage cortisol levels in PCOS
- Onion: Support cardiovascular health and blood sugar regulation
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 protein-rich ingredients that help regulate appetite hormones (ghrelin and leptin), and healthy monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats that support cell membrane health and hormone synthesis. 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 Garden Harvest Soup 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: Spinach.
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.
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 Garden Harvest Soup recipe is designed to be PCOS-friendly. At 95 calories per serving with 3g of protein, it supports balanced blood sugar and hormonal health. It also provides 4g of fiber, which helps with insulin sensitivity.
This recipe takes about 34 minutes total. Prep time is 19 minutes and cook time is 15 minutes. It makes 2 servings, so you can meal prep for multiple days.
Per serving: 95 calories, 3g protein (13%), 13g carbs, 3.5g fat. Plus 4g 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 95 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.
Comments
Register or log in to add a comment