Chicken Barley Stew recipe for managing PCOS and pregnancy on Fertility Chef

Lunch: Chicken Barley Stew

This recipe includes fertility superfoods such as:

Health and fertility benefits of Chicken Barley Stew

Barley is about the best grain a woman with PCOS can eat. It is low in calories and has the lowest GI of all grains. Low-GI grains such as barley take much longer to digest and create a slow, steady rise in blood glucose and insulin levels. As mentioned before on Fertility Chef, low-GI foods reduce cravings. If possible, try and find hulled barley as it is the most nutrient dense of all types of barley. Skinless chicken breast is an excellent source of the protein, as its contains 21 grams of protein for every 100 grams of breast. Additionally, chicken contains ample amounts of vitamin B6, which serves a vital function in helping to reduce the stressors that cause PCOS. Vitamin B6 help keeps your hormones at balanced levels, which is very helpful for those seeking to stem the flow of excessive testosterone and androgen

Ingredients

4 teaspoons Olive Oil, Divided
1 pound Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breast, Cut Into 3/4-inch Pieces
1 teaspoon Salt, Divided
1 teaspoon Ground Pepper, Divided
1 Yellow Onion, Chopped
2 Medium Carrots, Cut Into 1/2-circles
1 stalk Celery, Cut Into 1/2-inch Dice
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 cup Pearl Barley
4 cups Chicken Broth
1 can (14 Oz. Size) Petite Diced Tomatoes
1/4 cup Minced Flat-leaf Parsley

Instructions

Heat 2 teaspoons of olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, and cook until the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and keep warm.
Heat the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil in the saucepan. Add the onion, carrots and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften, about 5 minutes.
Add the garlic, thyme and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoons ground pepper. Cook for 1 minute.
Stir in the pearl barley, chicken broth and diced tomatoes. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer until the barley is tender, 50 –60 minutes. Stir in the chicken and parsley. Serve.