Women go through a lot of hormonal fluctuation during their menstrual cycle. Different chemical and hormonal changes take place at different stages of the period cycle and these drastic changes are correlated to the type of cravings one gets during PMS. Whether you crave carbs or sugar, it all depends on the hormone level spikes in your body.
That’s why instead of suppressing these cravings, it’s better to give in, especially during your PMS. But, that doesn’t mean you eat your body weight’s worth of donuts, just be mindful and try to incorporate healthier options to curb your PMS cravings. Here are three recipes that will help you embrace your PMS cravings without making you feel guilty.
1. Spinach Strawberry Salad With Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing
This colourful salad is loaded with fresh vegetables providing plenty of fibre and the feta cheese has enough protein to keep you full. It is perfect to curb those PMS cravings without adding on to your calories.
Ingredients
- 4 cups of spinach
- 10 strawberries, sliced
- Half a red onion, thinly sliced
- 1 cucumber, sliced
- 3 tbsp feta cheese, crumbled
- 3 tbsp pine nuts
Dressing
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 ½ tsp rice wine vinegar
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 1 tsp milk
- 1 tsp poppy seeds
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Directions
- Add spinach, strawberries, pine nuts, cucumber, and feta cheese in a bowl
- Drizzle the poppyseed dressing
- Whisk it all together
- Serve it cold
2. Salmon With Quick Parsley Walnut Pesto
Ingredients
- 1 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 Salmon fillet
- 1 tbsp garlic, minced
- ½ cup olive oil
- ½ cup walnuts
- ¼ cup lemon juice
Spice Rub
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp Cayenne pepper
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Directions
- In a large bowl, add walnuts, parsley, olive oil, pepper, and 3 tbsp lemon juice, mix together well, and keep it aside
- In a smaller bowl, add pepper, cayenne pepper, and salt, mix well, and then rub the salmon with the spice rub
- Heat a large skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- Put the salmon on the pan skin side down and cook for 5 minutes
- Flip the salmon and cook for another 5 minutes
- Pour the lemon juice in the pan and cook for a couple of more minutes until the lemon juice has been reduced
- Remove the salmon from the pan and place it on a plate
- Spread the parsley and walnut mixture on the salmon and serve immediately
3. Cinnamon Dark Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats
Dark chocolate is an excellent choice during PMS because it is rich in magnesium. Studies show that magnesium helps in reducing PMS symptoms, especially stress and mood swings. It also curbs your sugar cravings and helps with headaches.
Ingredients
- ½ cup rolled oats, try not to use instant oats
- ½ cup milk – Any plant-based milk will do such as almond or soy
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 to 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey
- 2 tbsp dark chocolate
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 banana
- 1 tsp chia seeds
Directions
- The night before serving, take a mason jar and mix all the ingredients excluding the banana
- Cover the jar with the lid and place it in the fridge for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight
- The next morning, take the jar and mix the ingredients well, then add cut-up banana slices for extra flavour
