Creamy Cucumber–Chickpea Bowl

This was a POTS-y day. I got out of the car and immediately felt that familiar rush - heart rate spiking, vision going fuzzy around the edges, that “oh cool I might need to sit on the curb” feeling. Not a full crash, but enough that standing in the kitchen sounded miserable.

I wanted something cold, salty, and low-effort. No stove. No multitasking. Just food I could eat slowly while sitting down and letting my body calm itself.

This bowl was exactly that.

Disorder impact

Disorder	Helpful / Neutral / Risk	Rationale
POTS	Helpful	Chickpeas + yogurt = protein and substance, plus salt helps with blood volume. Cold foods are easier when upright feels bad.
Lupus	Supportive	Cucumbers and herbs are anti-inflammatory-adjacent and easy on days when joints feel stiff but not flaring.
Vestibular migraine	Depends	Yogurt can be higher histamine for some. Works for me on non-migraine days; swap coconut yogurt if dairy is risky.

What this is

Crunchy cucumbers, creamy herby yogurt, and roasted chickpeas for salt and texture. It’s refreshing but still filling - not a sad salad, not a heavy meal.

This is “I need to eat but my body is being dramatic” food.

Ingredients (1 bowl)

Item	Amount	Notes
Chickpeas	¾ cup	Roasted or pan-toasted with salt
Cucumber	1 cup	Chopped, skin on
Radishes	A few	Optional but good crunch
Plain Greek yogurt	½ cup	Or dairy-free alt
Fresh dill	1–2 tbsp	Key flavor
Olive oil	1 tsp	For chickpeas
Salt + pepper	To taste	Don’t be shy

Quick assembly

1. Toss chickpeas with olive oil and salt. Roast or pan-toast until warm and slightly crispy.

2. Mix yogurt, dill, salt, and pepper in a bowl.

3. Add cucumber and radishes, toss gently.

4. Top with chickpeas. Eat cold. Sit down while eating. Highly recommended.

Why this worked today

• Cold food when standing felt bad

• Salt without drinking another electrolyte

• Protein that didn’t feel heavy

• Zero stove time