The best time for bonding between moms and daughters is during PMS … said no one ever (until today!). Hormones are out of whack, tempers flare, and communication is tricky. However, you can quickly agree on some things, like comfort foods and lazy tasks. Why not both? Cooking is a good way to de-stress together, especially when the recipe is simple and quick.
Lately, I have noticed a trend among teens and adolescents, especially on social media: food for periods or treats specifically dreamed up for the sake of easing and helping menstrual symptoms and cravings. Everyone’s looking for the best period comfort food recipes. My daughter and I joined in and conjured up our own recipes for PMS edible cookie dough. That’s right, these are no-bake recipes. They’re gooey, delicious, and as an added bonus, they’re nutritious. They also work as dips!
Bolster your snacks with some of the best food for period cramps.
We specifically chose ingredients for our period snacks that can help with period pain and other discomforts that often show up on a monthly basis. So what food is good for period cramps?
- Chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) are high in magnesium (which helps fight water retention and bloating), Vitamin B6 (which can fight irritability), and manganese (which may help with mood issues and cramps).
- Oats are packed with fiber to improve digestion, plus zinc and magnesium to lessen PMS symptoms.
- Yams (or sweet potatoes) are high in Vitamin B6.
- Cinnamon is a natural anti-inflammatory.
- Ginger helps with gas and bloating.
- Dark Chocolate also contains magnesium. Yay!
Edible cookie dough voted best period comfort food by these teens.
We created a basic edible cookie dough recipe with three variations. Then we took our period comfort food public and had a little tasting party with my daughter’s friends. The reviews are in:
“OMG. I could eat the whole tub!”
“Definitely goes on my comfort list.”
“I would have NEVER thought I’d like the yam version, but it’s actually my favorite. The different textures slay.”
With period food like this, you can relax with heating pads and enjoy each other’s company. And for the record: I was wrong. PMS can be a great time for bonding. Enjoy!
PMS Edible Cookie Dough Varieties
Basic PMS Edible Cookie Dough Recipe
Ingredients
• 2 cups of oat flour (or ground oats)
• 1/2 cup of raw oats
• 1 can of chickpeas
• 1 cup of milk or milk substitute (we used oat milk)
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt
• 2 tablespoons of brown sugar (add more if you prefer a higher sweetness level)
• 3 tablespoons of maple syrup
• 1/3 cup of almond butter (or any other nut butter)
Instructions
1. For tools, all you need is a blender. We’ve used a Vitamix but any kind should do.
2. If you make your own oat flour, grind the oats first and set them aside with the dry ingredients.
3. Blend the chickpeas (with the canned liquid) until it’s smooth.
4. Add the remaining wet ingredients and blend.
5. Add dry ingredients and blend.
At this point, you can either enjoy the dough as is, take it one step further with one of our suggestions, or divide the dough into three equal parts to try all flavors, as we did.
Please note, the measurements below are for 1/3 of the batter, so triple them if you’re making only one version.
PMS Cookie Dough Recipe 1: Cinna-menses
If you love holiday baking, this flavor is for you!
Ingredients
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom
• 1/2 teaspoon of ginger
Instructions
1. Blend into the basic dough batter.
2. Freeze for 30 minutes or refrigerate for 90 minutes.
3. Sit back and enjoy!
PMS Cookie Dough Recipe 2: PMS (Potato Marshmallow Smash)
If you love sweet, salty, and crunchy, this recipe is for you!
Ingredients
• 1 small yam
• 1/3 cup of mini marshmallows
• 1 handful of crushed potato chips
Instructions
1. Cook yam first until tender. Peel and let cool.
2. Blend all ingredients into the basic dough batter.
3. Freeze the dough for 30 minutes or refrigerate for 90 minutes.
4. Sit back and enjoy!
PMS Cookie Dough Recipe 3: Cramp-fire Chocolate
This one is for all the chocolate lovers out there!
Ingredients
• 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
• A sprinkling of however many chocolate chips you would like
Instructions
1. Blend into the basic dough batter.
2. Freeze for 30 minutes, or refrigerate for 90 minutes.
3. Sit back and enjoy!
