PCOS Recipe: Turkey, Quinoa, and Zucchini meatballs.

Italian Turkey, Quinoa & Zucchini Meatballs (Adapted from Cookin' Canuck)

• 2 lbs ground turkey
• 1 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/2 medium onion, finely minced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 cup minced zucchini
• 1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 tsp dried chile flakes
• 2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tsp ground oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 jars tomato sauce (your favorite kind)
• Whole Grain pita pockets
• 8 tbsp finely grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Thoroughly coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray or olive oil.
2. In a bowl, combine ground turkey, cooked quinoa, finely minced onion, garlic, minced zucchini, parsley, dried chile flakes, soy sauce, oregano, ground pepper and egg.
3. Mix well to combine. Form meatballs by rolling between the palms of your hands. Place the meatballs on the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly.
4. Bake until the meatballs are firm to the touch and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
5. While the meatballs are cooking, heat the tomato sauce in a large saucepan set over medium heat (add spinach to the pan while heating for a twist).
6. Transfer the meatballs to the tomato sauce and gently stir to coat the meatballs.
7. Spoon the meatballs and sauce into a bowl, serve alongside the pita pockets and Parmesan cheese. (or be really good and roll them in lettuce leaves.)

WHY IS THIS SO GOOD?

Well, for us with PCOS this recipe is to die for! For one thing, turkey is extremely high in protein and very low in fat and cholesterol. Not only that, quinoa is a whole grain found in South America (available in the health food section) and has the lowest glycemic index of any other grain and it also has the highest in protein count of any other grain. This combination equals an energy packed meal that is low in our worst enemies: CARBS! The pitas are carbs, but whole grains and thin bread along with healthy meatballs packed with veggies is a PCOSgal's treat without cheating. 

Why does good food have to taste bad? IT DOESN'T!!!!!!! 

Yummy good food, that's what it is all about.

PCOS and Breastfeeding

So, a few weeks ago, I gave birth to my son Evan! He has been such a blessing in our lives and I can't believe that something as simple as a diet change could make his existence possible.

For those of us PCOSgals, we would like to think that becoming pregnant and reaching the end with a happy healthy baby would signal the end of our struggle. Unfortunately, as I found out, the struggle is far from over.
Many women with PCOS struggle with breastfeeding as I have these past few weeks, and let me tell you, not only is it discouraging to have this issue, I can't help but feel like a failure. These are emotions that I would prefer not to have as I am trying to bond with my new little one and create a loving environment for our family.

Refusing to simply throw in the towel, I decided to do some research. Before I delivered my son, I read a breastfeeding book by Ina May Gaskin. The book was helpful with common breastfeeding issues, but it failed to touch on the issues I now face with my PCOS. Looking back, I should have known that a bodily function controlled by hormones could be disrupted by my hormone imbalance. DUH!
It is something I wish I would have been prepared for before my son arrived!

I breast fed exclusively for four days until my son's cries of hunger had me at my breaking point. I had my mother hold him while I went into the kitchen and prepared him his first bottle of formula ... tears streamed down my face, feeling defeated and inadequate. I cried while I fed my son, wondering what was wrong with me that I couldn't do it myself as my mother, in turn, held me while I cried.
I have to say, that my husband was my biggest source of comfort during the next few days. When he came home that night from work I held my head low as I told him that I had made Evan a bottle of formula fearing the worst. I thought he would be disappointed with me ... but just the opposite, he smiled and hugged me, wiped the tears away and told me that everything would be okay. He let me know that I was a good mother, that I wasn't selfish by letting him cry or simply throwing in the towel by never trying in the first place. I gave him what he needed, and because of that I was a great mother.

Still, even with my husband's words of encouragement, I still feel a little down about the situation. I refuse to give up and have switched from feeding at the breast to only pumping. This way, I know exactly how much milk I am making and I pump after every feeding as Evan snoozes.

There are several reasons why us PCOSgals may have problems breastfeeding and the best information on the subject is here at this site.

Evan is now on a 30/70 diet of breast milk vs. formula and I still hope that my supply will increase as I do everything from routinely pumping to maintaining my diet to do just that. Every drop is good for him and I won't stop trying until I can't get anymore drops. I am still researching supplements and prescriptions that my assist in increasing production, and that may be an option for me in the following weeks.

For now, I am trying to hold my head high and be a Diva! No matter how this situation turns out, I am a good mother, I have a healthy son, and I praise God for these blessings and many more.

BABY PROGRESS!

I'm in my third trimester now with only about 7 weeks left to go and things are going great!

How has PCOS been a challenge with my pregnancy?
Well .... I haven't noticed much of a difference at all.

I chose a natural approach to pregnancy and childbirth with the Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth.

Why natural childbirth? Well, because since I've begun this journey, I've found that it's the natural way in almost every case that has been successful in my life. I was on drugs for years that did absolutely NOTHING for me and my PCOS. So why should I think that for my pregnancy and delivery? Oh yes, I'll take the drugs and not worry about anything until the doctors tell me to. That's a recipe for disaster.

I came across the Bradley Method while doing research about how my diet should be altered during pregnancy. The Bradley Method recommends the Brewer diet which was strikingly similar to the diet that I was already on. I immediately purchased "Husband Coached Childbirth" by Dr. Bradley and read it cover to cover ... then made my husband read it as well.  :) ... After that, we signed up for a 12 week Bradley Course with a local teacher!

From there, I was convinced, this was definitely my path. ... Everyone I had spoken to about labor had HORRIBLE things to say, even though they had an epidural. ... That is until I started reading birthing stories from women on the web who used natural childbirth .. They had wonderful things to say about the experience. They said that by knowing what was happening during the process and by managing the pain themselves, they felt like they were in control of what was happening and weren't left to the mercy of the doctors.

So what does the Brewer diet recommend?

PROTEIN!!!! That sounds familiar doesn't it.

80-100g of protein a day (Because studies show that protein keeps a healthy pregnancy and prevents pre-eclampsia).
2 farm fresh eggs (Cholesterol contained in them help build babies brains)
4 servings of Dairy (for the calcium and protein)
Lots of fruits and vegetables
5 servings of whole grain a day (turns out that isn't a lot and easily doable)
Green Leafy Vegetables (the vitamin C strengthens the placenta, membranes of waters, and cervix)
.... amongst other suggestions.


This diet has been so easy to alter to. AND THE BEST PART IS ... my doctors have had nothing to say about my health up to this point. My weight gain is appropriate, blood pressure is perfect, no iron deficiency, no UTIs, baby weight is perfect, uterine measurement is spot on, and the list keeps going.

I have less than two months left and the doctors have kept me in the green ... this is all due to the education I received in my 12 week Bradley Course, the books I've read, and the commitment I have for staying on track.

I am set up for an uncomplicated delivery, a speedy recovery, and a VERY HAPPY BABY EVAN!