15 Hearty Recipes to Eat in the Menstrual Phase of Your Period

The menstrual phase is the first phase of a menstrual cycle, and it is the time when a woman’s uterus sheds its lining. During this phase, women may experience cramps, bloating, fatigue, and mood swings. Eating a healthy, balanced diet filled with foods high in magnesium, calcium, and iron during this time can help alleviate some of these symptoms and provide the body with the nutrients it needs!

1. Kale Salad Balance Bowl

Source: Kale Salad Balance Bowl

This Kale Salad Balance Bowl by Crissy Cavanaugh has black beans, harissa roasted sweet potatoes and sweet tahini dressing for a balanced dinner in a bowl!

2. Emerald Kale Detox Soup

Source: Emerald Kale Detox Soup

This Emerald Kale Detox Soup by Helyn Dunn is light and refreshing.

3. Marinated Kale Salad

Source: Marinated Kale Salad

4. Dark Chocolate Quinoa Crisps

Source: Dark Chocolate Quinoa Crisps

Healthy vegan rice crispy treats? Yes, you heard that right. These Dark Chocolate Quinoa Crisps by Marie Reginato come together in about ten minutes. Pop them in the freezer and take them out whenever you’re in need of some chocolate. These crispy treats are made with puffed quinoa or brown rice, cacao powder, nut butter, coconut oil, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt! So easy and healthy!

5. Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Bark

Source: Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Bark

This time of year, it’s pumpkin spice everything, but let’s not forget the seeds. And pumpkin seeds together with chocolate – amazing! This Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Bark by Holly Bertone is made with just 3 ingredients and it’s Paleo, gluten-free, and vegan. It’s the perfect snack for those crisp autumn days or any day of the year!

6. 4-Ingredient Chocolate Cake Pops

Source: 4-Ingredient Chocolate Cake Pops

Want to make something quick but at the same time healthy and beautiful for a party (or for yourself)? These 4-Ingredient Chocolate Cake Pops from Laine Rudolfa are the hit – they’re completely wholesome, gluten-free and the recipe asks only for 4 ingredients!

7. Sweet and Spicy Spinach and Lentil Curry

Source: Sweet and Spicy Spinach and Lentil Curry

Wholesome and delicious food does not have to be time-consuming or difficult! This Sweet and Spicy Spinach and Lentil Curry by Maria Koutsogiannis is a perfect example of how easy it can be to eat well, even when you’re on a tight schedule. This healthy dish is filled with beautiful and exotic spices balanced out by creamy coconut milk. This hearty curry is guaranteed to keep you warm, cozy, and satisfied during the chilly weather.

8. High Protein Spinach and Rice Balls 

Source: High Protein Spinach and Rice Balls

Philipp Ertl‘s Spinach and Rice Protein Balls are easy and fun to make and also great way to get your greens in, kids will love them. They also freeze well, so you could make them in advance, freeze and then put into the oven whenever you fancy them. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, they are a great protein and an excellent iron booster.

9. 20-Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry

Source: 20-Minute Chickpea and Spinach Curry

Dana Sandonato‘s protein-packed Chickpea and Spinach Curry is the perfect meal in a pinch! If you’re a fan of chickpeas alone, you need this dish in your life. This curry will fill you up without weighing you down and — the kicker — you can make it ahead of time and it freezes beautifully. The leftovers are delicious, if not better since the flavors mingle and get to know one another over time. Serve it over fluffy rice, with naan, as a side, or eat it on its own.

10. Pumpkin Spinach Creamy Lentil Soup 

Source: Pumpkin Spinach Creamy Lentil Soup

This Creamy Lentil Soup by Kristina Jug and Mitja Bezensêkis a hearty vegan one-pot soup with lentils, pumpkin, and spinach. Great for a cold winter day! This one-pot soup is vegan, gluten-free and only takes about 30 minutes to make!

11. Cucumber Quinoa Salad With Blackberries

Source: Cucumber Quinoa Salad With Blackberries

While quinoa is a great replacement for rice in savory dishes, it’s also a wonderful grain to incorporate into sweet dishes! This Cucumber Quinoa Salad With Blackberries from Taylor Kiser features spiralized cucumber noodles, almond milk, blackberries, slivered almonds, and mint. The gingery, creamy, almond butter vinaigrette makes this dish truly special.

12. Buckwheat Noodle Stir Fry

Source: Buckwheat Noodle Stir Fry

Tender buckwheat noodles lightly tossed with tamari and coconut nectar sauce and served with mushrooms and plenty of fresh greens. Doesn’t this Buckwheat Noodle Stir Fry by Molly Ashworth sound like a delicious lunch idea? Drizzle some Sriracha on top if you like it spicy.

13. Buckwheat Flatbread With Shiitake “Bacon” 

Source: Buckwheat Flatbread With Shiitake “Bacon”

This shiitake bacon is a little salty and a little smoky with just the faintest hint of sweetness. This Buckwheat Flatbread With Shiitake “Bacon”  by Courtney West is naturally gluten-free and so light. This guilt-free meal is delicious, savory, and so fun to make with kids!

14. Kidney Bean and Pumpkin Seed Sliders 

Source: Kidney Bean and Pumpkin Seed Sliders

These Kidney Bean and Pumpkin Seed Sliders by Evi Oraveczare a true crowd-pleaser! Crisp on the outside and tender on the inside, these are the perfect little snack for summer!

15. Sun-Dried Tomato and Kidney Bean Chili

Source: Sun-Dried Tomato and Kidney Bean Chili

A warm and comforting dish with mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and kidney beans. Ashlee Piper‘s Sun-Dried Tomato and Kidney Bean Chili is perfect to make a big batch of to have throughout the week!

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

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