Bloody Maintenance: Iron Rich Comfort Meal for Your Period
When your period starts, your body loses blood. Iron drops. Hormones shift. Energy follows. Cravings hit because your system needs fuel, not restriction. This is when you eat properly. Steak with carbs and salt is maintenance, not indulgence.
Why steak helps during your period
Red meat provides heme iron, the form your body absorbs best. During menstruation, that matters. Steak also gives you B12, zinc, selenium, and complete protein. Together they support energy, mood, and hormonal stability.
Iron-rich meals reduce fatigue and cravings during your period. When you eat protein, fat, and carbs together, blood sugar stays steady. You feel satisfied instead of chasing snacks.
Ingredients
For the steak
Ribeye or sirloin, 250 to 300 grams
Salt and black pepper
Butter or olive oil
Optional garlic and fresh thyme
For the gluten free mac and cheese
Gluten free pasta made from rice or corn (I strongly prefer rice based gluten free pasta. The corn based taste AND smell like popcorn to me)
Butter
Milk or cream
Sharp cheddar, grated
Optional parmesan
Salt and a pinch of mustard powder or oregano
For the green beans
Fresh green beans, trimmed
Bacon
Olive oil or bacon fat
Black pepper
Preparation
Steak
Take the steak out of the fridge 30 minutes before cooking. Pat dry and season well.
Heat a heavy pan until hot. Add fat. Sear the steak without moving it for two to three minutes. Flip and cook another two to three minutes, depending on thickness.
Add butter, garlic, and thyme if using, and baste.
Remove and let rest for at least five minutes.
Resting is not optional for a good steak
Mac and cheese
Cook pasta in well salted water until just tender. Drain.
Melt butter over low heat. Add milk or cream. Stir in cheese gradually until smooth. Season. Fold in pasta, loosening with a little milk if needed.
Green beans
Cook bacon until crisp. Remove, keep the fat.
Sauté green beans in the fat until tender with bite. Season and return bacon to the pan.
Serving
Slice the steak against the grain. Serve with mac and cheese and green beans. Add flaky salt to the steak if needed.
Final note
This plate works because it covers the basics. Protein for strength. Iron for blood. Fat for hormones. Carbs for calm. Salt for balance. Eating like this during your period is bloody maintenace.