I'm a chocolate-loving nutritionist, pre & postnatal coach, doula and let's face it- total birth nerd 🤓. I'm here to help you cut through mommy-marketing and pinterest perfection to confidently cultivate a pregnancy and postpartum experience you totally love.
Looking for a handy snack to fuel your nursing adventures? These gluten-free lactation energy bars are full of the nutrients you need to keep you going through the early days of making milk. Made with gluten-free oats, dates, almonds and brewers yeast, and plenty of healthy fats, these bars support a healthy milk supply without the crash and burn of traditional energy bars or lactation supplements.
Breastfeeding comes with many highs and lows, and every person will experience their own unique set of challenges. During my postpartum classes, we spend some time chatting about the joys and challenges of nursing, nutrition to support healthy milk supply and specifically galactagogues (side note: if you say it fast enough it sounds like “galactic hugs”).
Galactagogues are substances that increase milk supply during breast-feeding. The most commonly used herbal galactagogues are fenugreek, blessed thistle and alfalfa. (1) Not everyone needs a galactagogue and if you are concerned about supply before diving into the supplement aisle, connect with a lactation consultant! Things like latch, positioning, tongue-tie, and more can impact mom’s supply and babe’s ability to extract milk.
Foods to support Milk Production
Another important aspect of maintaining a healthy supply is ensuring you are nourishing your body well! This means eating a nutrient dense diet, taking your prenatal supplements, and staying hydrated are absolutely key to not only maintaining a healthy milk supply, but ensuring you are getting the nourishment to heal!
Foods that are associated with healthy milk production include oats, dates, almonds, and brewers yeast (not nutritional yeast). Pinpointing why these foods work isn’t always easy, but they’ve been used traditionally in different cultures for MANY MANY MANY years.
But here are some thoughts…
Carbohydrates! You need approximately 100-150g of carbohydrates per day while nursing. And for those in the paleo sphere that can feel like a lot. Obviously, this is bioindiviudal, so find what works for you. Dates, almonds and oats are typically easy to digest form of carbohydrates and are traditionally linked to increased milk production
B Vitamins! Brewers yeast provides important B vitamins that boost energy and mood and pass on necessary nutrients to baby.
Calorie content! Again, adjusting to a newborn schedule often means that we aren’t consuming as many sheer calories as we need to heal, grow and feel like a human. Having grab & go nutrient dense options, and not just processed convenience foods, is vital to the postpartum period.
Need a grab and go nursing snack? I keep a supply of dry roasted almonds, chocolate (hey, magnesium y’all!), toasted coconut flakes, and these lactation energy bars handy. (I also have a GIANT BOTTLE of water with a straw).
There are two variations of these bars, one with eggs and one without for those who may have sensitivities!
In a large bowl combine oats, almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, brewer's yeast, spices, baking soda and salt.
In a separate bowl, lightly beat the four eggs and then add the pumpkin and coconut oil.
Whisk together until well combined.
Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry until well incorporated.
Gently fold in the chopped dates, coconut flakes, and chocolate chips.
Chill dough in fridge for 30 minutes
Remove dough from fridge and place 1/3 of the mixture on large sheet of parchment paper.
Cover dough with a second piece of parchment paper and using a rolling pin, shape dough into a large rectangle 1/2" thick.
Transfer the rectangle of dough to a baking sheet and remove top sheet of parchment paper (save it!)
Bake in center rack of oven for 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 5-7 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to counter to cool.
Repeat with remainder of dough!
Cut into 3 inch rectangles and store in the fridge for up to 10 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Alternatively: If you don't want to cook all the cookies at once, you can freeze the dough for future use. Roll it out into 1/2" rectangle, wrap in parchment and plastic wrap, and store in fridge!
Gluten-Free Lactation Energy Bars (egg-free version)
In a large bowl combine oats, almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, brewer's yeast, spices, baking soda and salt.
In a separate bowl, combine water and flax seed. Allow to sit for 2-3 minutes.
Add pumpkin, coconut oil to flax seed slurry and whisk together until well combined.
Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry until well incorporated.
Gently fold in the chopped dates, coconut flakes, and chocolate chips.
Chill dough in fridge for 30 minutes
Remove dough from fridge and place 1/3 of the mixture on large sheet of parchment paper.
Cover dough with a second piece of parchment paper and using a rolling pin, shape dough into a large rectangle 1/2" thick.
Transfer the rectangle of dough to a baking sheet and remove top sheet of parchment paper (save it!)
Bake in center rack of oven for 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 5-7 minutes on baking sheet before transferring to counter to cool.
Repeat with remainder of dough!
Cut into 3 inch rectangles and store in the fridge for up to 10 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Alternatively: If you don't want to cook all the cookies at once, you can freeze the dough for future use. Roll it out into 1/2" rectangle, wrap in parchment and plastic wrap, and store in fridge!
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