Cauliflower Kale Avocado Soup

The 3 primary ingredients are all nutritional powerhouses and PCOS-fighters.

Determining whether a meal is healthy can be complicated depending who you ask. In this case, however, there isn’t much to debate. The primary ingredients of this soup (cauliflower, kale and avocado) are all nutritional powerhouses and PCOS-fighters. By pureeing vegetables like cauliflower you can achieve a creamy soup without dairy or flour. In addition, unlike many soups this recipe is very low in sodium. Roasting the cauliflower, garlic and onion first helps achieve a richer flavor (and makes your home smell really good!).

Cauliflower Kale Avocado Soup

Ingredients:

  • 1 cauliflower head, broken into florets
  • 1/2 medium onion, chopped into large chunks
  • 4 whole garlic cloves
  • 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil (& extra to drizzle as garnish)
  • 1/4 tsp thyme
  • 1/4 tsp cumin
  • 4 cups water (approx.)
  • A few handfuls of kale torn into chunks, organic if possible
  • 1 avocado, chopped
  • salt to taste (I didn’t add any)

Instructions:

The full recipe with instructions can be found in my vegan recipe eBook.

PCOS Powers:

  • cauliflower = anti-inflammatory, low on the glycemic index, & contains sulforaphane which improves blood pressure, kidney function and may prevent cancer
  • avocado = helps lower LDL “bad” cholesterol, low on the glycemic index, high in fiber, & high in B-complex vitamins which combat stress
  • kale = anti-inflammatory, high in fiber, & high in calcium which is important for egg maturation and follicle development
  • garlic = helps lower cholesterol, an antibiotic, & blood cleanser which relaxes blood vessels for easier blood flow
  • onion = promotes liver detoxification, improves digestion & is high in chromium which helps maintain healthy blood glucose levels

 PIN FOR LATER:

Cauliflower Kale Avocado Soup

Power Berry Chia Overnight Oats

A simple breakfast rich in antioxidants.

Talk about starting the day off strong with a punch of anti-oxidants. Every ingredient in this breakfast is nutritious and it takes about 10 minutes to prepare: 5 minutes the night before and 5 minutes in the morning. The key is in perfecting the chia pudding layer to the consistency you prefer as this breakfast can work with almost any fruit.

overnightoatscrop

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp chia seeds
  • 1/2 cup oats
  • 3/4 cup almond milk
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 cup frozen berries (cherries & blueberries), organic if possible
  • toppings: pomegranate

How to: 

  1. Whisk together oats, chia seeds, almond milk and cinnamon in a bowl.
  2. Place in fridge overnight.
  3. In the morning puree frozen fruit in food processor.
  4. Get creative layering the oat mixture with fruit mixture, or simply mix everything together.

PCOS Powers:

  • chia seeds = high in omega 3s which can help decrease high testosterone and improve egg quality
  • blueberries = low GI fruit, may help to lower blood glucose levels
  • cherries = low GI fruit, may help lower inflammation
  • cinnamon = may help balance glucose levels, lower cholesterol, and decrease triglycerides in blood
  • pomegranate = may help lower cholesterol and triglycerides

Cinnamon Turmeric Pumpkin Seeds

A fun, nutritious, anti-inflammatory snack idea.

One of my favourite fall activities is carving pumpkins and then roasting the pumpkin seeds. I think you may fall in love with this recipe (pun totally intended). These make a great snack on their own, or to sprinkle on overnight oats or granola. Not only are pumpkin seeds packed with magnesium, manganese, copper, protein, and zinc, but they also have amazing health benefits specifically beneficial for people with PCOS (read more below in ‘PCOS Powers’). What are you waiting for? Get carving, cooking and snacking!


Turmeric Cinnamon Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups pumpkin seeds (2 large pumpkins made this amount)
  • 4 tsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp turmeric
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 4 tsp pumpkin spice (2 parts cinnamon to 1 part each all spice, nutmeg, ginger)
  • pinch of salt

How to:

  1. Scoop out pumpkin seeds along with the inside of the pumpkin.
  2. Separate pumpkin seeds from pumpkin goop (technical word, I know) and rinse clean.
  3. Spread seeds out on baking pans, pat dry with paper towel, and leave out overnight to dry.
  4. Preheat oven to 200 deg. F (very low).
  5. Mix spices and oil together in a small bowl.
  6. Pour over seeds in a large bowl and mix to coat seeds.
  7. Spread out seeds in one layer on parchment paper on a baking sheet.
  8. Cook at 200 deg. F for about 45 min.

PCOS Powers:

Pumpkin Seeds

    • contain tryptophan which is a precursor for serotonin (can help induce relaxation and improve brain health)
    • contain phytoestrogens which can help increase HDL cholesterol and lower blood pressure
    • contain beta-sitosterol which may inhibit conversion of testosterone to DHT

Cinnamon

Turmeric

Ginger

For more information on spices that support our mood, check out this post.