As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links, view our disclosure policy for details.
If you have PCOS, you are undoubtedly paying attention to what you eat. There are a lot of good suggestions for healthy PCOS-friendly meals available, but what about snacking? Believe it or not, healthy snacks can actually be a good thing for a healthy PCOS lifestyle! Here at MyPCOSKitchen
I recommend eating more of a keto diet. You can find my diet plans and PCOS cookbooks here as well.
Why It’s Okay To Have A Snack If You Have PCOS
This might sound overly simple, but if your body is telling you that you’re hungry then you should eat something.
If you’re hungry between your regular meal times, waiting to eat will only make you feel terrible and can lead to low blood sugar. You might also be tempted to binge eat to satisfy your hunger, which can also adversely affect your insulin production and blood sugar. The key is to not get a really high-sugar or carb snack.
Many people with PCOS have been diagnosed with insulin resistance or metabolic syndrome.
If you have insulin resistance, the cells in your liver, muscles, and fat don’t have a good response to insulin, and therefore can’t use the glucose in your blood to produce energy.
To make up for this, the pancreas produces more insulin which in turn can cause your blood sugar to rise.
Eating a healthy low-carb snack between meals helps keep your blood sugar levels more stable, so the pancreas won’t be “triggered” to produce extra insulin. Keeping the circulating insulin levels lower is known to help improve many PCOS symptoms.
Have A Snack Plan
In order to keep your insulin levels steady throughout the day, some nutritionists recommend eating every three to five hours. That sounds like a lot, but in reality, that can be broken out into three full meals a day with one or two “snack breaks” in between those meals.
If you notice that you start to feel hungry or tired at certain points in the day, like the dreaded “mid-afternoon slump”, that’s probably the best time to grab a snack.
If you work outside of your home, you can prep snacks to take to your job with you early in the week.
Even if you work from home, have your preferred snacks prepped and ready so you can just grab them from the kitchen.
You’re less likely to grab something that is more convenient than healthy if you have good snacks available at hand.
When planning your snack options, try to include these three important macronutrients: fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. Whole grains are a great choice as well; they help you feel full and provide fiber.
Food that is rich in omega-3 acids, such as tuna fish, nuts, and chia seeds, is important, too. Omega-3 acid may help with the inflammation symptoms associated with PCOS.
When planning your snacks each week, don’t fall into a “snack rut” of having the same foods every day.
If you get bored with your snack options, no matter how tasty they are, you’ll be tempted to have a candy bar or bag of chips instead. Keep a variety of snacks on hand to avoid the rut!
Best PCOS Snacks
Here are some foods that make excellent snacks for anyone with PCOS.
Nuts - Nuts are full of healthy fats that will help to make you feel full. Walnuts especially are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. A one-quarter cup serving (about the size of the palm of your hand) is recommended as a good snack portion.
Peanut butter with apples or celery - Both celery and apples are high in fiber. Even though peanut butter can be high in calories, it’s a great snack choice. It’s full of healthy fats, protein, and niacin (which helps with digestive functions).
Trail mix
Trail mix with a mixture of nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and dark chocolate chips provides a variety of textures and flavors. You have to make sure to select the keto version of trail mix to keep the carbs lower.
Hard-boiled eggs
Simple to make and store in the refrigerator, hard-boiled eggs are a fantastic source of lean protein.
They’re also low in calories; a large egg typically only has 77 calories and 5 grams of fat. Hard-boiled eggs are also a good source of Vitamin D, calcium, and all of the B vitamins.
This may seem like a weird snack but you can make them tasty and I actually like them!
Seeds
Seeds such as sunflower seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, and pumpkin seeds are full of fiber, vitamin E, and Omega-3 fatty acids. Sprinkle some on top of yogurt for a satisfying crunch, or include them in a salad.
Raw vegetables with hummus - We all know raw veggies are a healthy snack, right? Pair them with some hummus and you’ve got a nutrition powerhouse!
The main ingredient in hummus is chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans) which are an outstanding source of plant-based protein and fiber. You also get healthy fats from the olive oil in hummus, as well as a good amount of calcium.
Yogurt
People have been eating some form of yogurt for literally thousands of years. It helps provide calcium for bone health, is a source of protein, and promotes good digestive functions.
Greek-style yogurt provides more protein than other types, so it’s a good choice if you need a protein boost in the middle of the day.
Honestly, yogurt is a great snack choice anyway because it seems like a treat!
It’s available in all kinds of flavors, and when you sprinkle a little granola or chopped nuts on top of a fruit yogurt it’s like eating a light dessert.
Dark Chocolate
Yes, you’re reading that correctly; chocolate is a good snack for anyone with PCOS! Any chocolate in moderation is okay, but dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa has the most nutritional benefits.
The flavanols and magnesium in dark chocolate may actually help with insulin function. Surprisingly, dark chocolate also provides a good amount of iron, which is important for red blood cells to transport oxygen throughout the body.
Not surprisingly, a little bit of chocolate helps when you’re craving something sweet, or when you just need a little mood booster.
Of course, chocolate should be eaten in moderation. An ounce or two a day (look for bags of dark chocolate squares on the candy aisle) is a good snack without going overboard.
Avocado on Keto Bread
There’s a reason avocado toast is such a trendy snack. It’s delicious and nutritious!
The creamy avocado is a nice contrast to the texture of keto bread. Avocado provides healthy fat, while whole-grain bread is a great source of dietary fiber. Try sprinkling some sesame seeds or pumpkin seeds on top for some extra crunch.
Popcorn
Popcorn is a terrific snack for anyone with PCOS. It’s a whole grain and is low in calories. It’s when you cover popcorn in butter and salt that it becomes unhealthy.
To enjoy popcorn without overindulging in butter and salt, use an air popper to make it instead of microwave versions.
If you don’t like plain popcorn, you can use a small amount of heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil on your popcorn, and instead of salt, you can flavor it with any number of herbs or seasonings.
Try an Italian herb mix for a savory treat, cinnamon and nutmeg for a “pumpkin spice” mood, or cumin and chili powder for taco-flavored popcorn. If you do want salted popcorn, just use the salt sparingly.
Blueberries, strawberries, grapes
Yes, you can enjoy fresh fruit, in moderation, on a PCOS-friendly diet! I created a post for the best fruits for PCOS.
Fruit provides vitamin C and fiber. Smaller fruits like blueberries, strawberries, and grapes are perfect for snacking because they’re “finger food”. In the Summertime, try frozen grapes for a refreshing treat.
Cheese
String cheese and cheddar cheese sticks aren’t just for kids’ school lunches! Cheese, especially with a handful of nuts, is a wonderful snack choice.
It will provide a bit of calcium, protein, and fat. They help you feel full so you won’t be tempted to overindulge.
Individual tuna pouches - Individual foil pouches of tuna are so convenient. They can be eaten on their own, or add the tuna to a salad.
Most of these pouches are under 100 calories, and some can be found with seasonings such as lemon-dill or Thai-chili. Tuna is high in Omega-3 fatty acids and is pretty low in fat and calories.
Smoked salmon on whole grain toast or crackers - Salmon is another fish that is loaded with super-healthy Omega-3 fatty acids. It’s even lower in calories than tuna fish in some cases. You can pair it with low-fat cream cheese on whole grain crackers or toast for a satisfying snack. Add some lemon-pepper seasoning or fresh dill for added flavor.
PCOS-Friendly Snack Recipes
Here are a few recipes to try if you want to make your own PCOS-friendly snacks. They are all easy to make and can be customized to suit your taste preferences.
Smoothies - Smoothies are wonderful for getting those important macronutrients in one snack option. There are so many PCOS-friendly smoothie recipes online, but this super fluffy banana protein shake is a standout! It’s creamy like ice cream but with a high protein content. This spinach-apple-banana smoothie might sound like an odd flavor combination, but you’ll be surprised at the taste. The spinach flavor is almost undistinguished, with tartness from the apple and a little spice from the fresh ginger being prominent.
Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding - The recipe for this sweet treat is wonderful for dessert as well as a snack option. Healthy chia seeds provide a boost of Omega-3 fatty acids and high fiber, and it contains flavanols and magnesium from the chocolate. It all comes together easily in a blender, and then you just refrigerate it for a few hours.
Peanut Butter Energy Balls - These delectable little treats are only 84 calories each, and provide an energy boost when you feel like you’re in a “slump”. All the ingredients are processed together in a blender, then you just roll the “dough” into little energy balls. You don’t even have to cook anything!
Roasted Chickpeas - Chickpeas are full of fiber and are great for maintaining digestive health. When you roast them with olive oil and a bit of seasoning, they become a wonderfully crunchy, savory snack. This recipe for Spicy Garlic Roasted Chickpeas is packed with flavor and you probably have all the ingredients in your kitchen already. They’re a nice alternative to having popcorn when watching movies or use them instead of croutons on a salad.
Comments
No Comments