Pecan Crusted Turkey Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes - PCOS-Friendly Recipe

Pecan Crusted Turkey Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 50 min
Servings: 6
Lunch

Nutrition per Serving

250 Calories
25g Protein
14g Carbs
10g Fat
Nothing says the holidays like turkey and sweet potatoes. This delightful dish is full of vitamin A, fiber and healthy fats from the pecans.

Ingredients

  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 1 egg
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
  • 2 oz pecan chips
  • 1 (24-oz) turkey breast tenderloin
  • 2 (6-oz) sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into wedges (about 18 wedges per potato)
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 Tbsp Splenda Brown Sugar Blend

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray large rectangular baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a medium shallow bowl, whisk together egg and egg whites.
  3. In another medium shallow bowl, combine garlic powder, pepper and pecans.
  4. Dip turkey breast tenderloin in egg mixture and coat well. Dredge turkey in pecan mixture and cover on both sides. Place in baking dish. Discard leftover egg mixture.
  5. In a medium bowl, mix together the sweet potatoes, oil, cinnamon and Splenda Brown Sugar Blend.
  6. Arrange the sweet potatoes around the turkey breast tenderloin in baking dish. Bake for 50 minutes or until done (turkey breast reaches 165 degrees).
  7. MAKE IT GLUTEN-FREE: Confirm all ingredients are gluten-free and this dish can be made gluten-free.

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 Pecan Crusted Turkey Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes contribute to your health goals:

  • Turkey: B vitamins play a role in energy metabolism and hormone regulation
  • Egg: Contain choline which supports liver function and hormone metabolism
  • Sweet potato: Has a lower glycemic index than regular potatoes, supporting blood sugar control
  • Olive oil: Anti-inflammatory properties make it especially beneficial for PCOS
  • Cinnamon: Studies show cinnamon can help lower fasting blood sugar levels in PCOS

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 anti-inflammatory spices that target the chronic inflammation underlying PCOS. 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 Pecan Crusted Turkey Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes 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: Cinnamon.

Cinnamon is one of the best ingredients that someone with insulin sensitivity can eat. Half a teaspoon of cinnamon per day has been shown to be very effective at normalizing blood sugar levels. Cinnamon contains hydroxychalcone, which is thought to enhance the effects of insulin. It has also been suggested that Cinnamon prevents post-meal blood sugar spikes by slowing the gastric emptying rate - meaning that food digests slowly. (Reference: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11506060).

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