Homemade granola

I hear from my breastfeeding clients all the time – “I’m so tired of eating oatmeal…” “It helps my milk supply but man I’m tired of eating oatmeal.” I feel like people hear they should eat oats to help with milk supply and automatically assume oatmeal. Today I’ll show you my granola recipe, which is loaded with healthy fats and galactagogues (foods that may help with milk production). If you’re not feeling like granola check out my Lactation Smoothie, or Baked Oatmeal, or even my Lactation Oatmeal Bars.

With every oat recipes, I always put the disclaimer, that while oatmeal may help with milk production, you must ensure your breastmilk is being removed FREQUENTLY and EFFICIENTLY to really boost your production. Your breasts are a factory, not a storage unit. As long as there are no medical or metabolic concerns, You will continue to make milk as long as that milk is being removed frequently by either your baby efficiently removing milk, or by pumping. You can take all the supplements and eat all the oats and brewers yeast in the world, but if you’re not removing that milk, it’s not going to do much.

If you need help addressing your milk supply, our team of IBCLC lactation consultants would love to help you!

Now, on to my granola recipe 🙂

This recipe was actually inspired by my college roommate. She’d always come back from break with a giant jar of homemade granola and we’d munch on it as a snack or eat it in our room at breakfast. I’ve modified her recipe by adding more nuts/seeds and dried fruit and decreasing the amount of oil and sugar.

This recipe is easy to make and lasts a good while. I’d recommend making it while you’re still pregnant then storing it so you can have a good healthy breakfast and snack once you’ve delivered and you’re focusing on breastfeeding. You can munch on it as a snack, while you’re nursing too.

What’s in it for mom and baby?

Oats are known to be a natural galactagogue, which is great for breastfeeding mamas. Oats are filled with protein, fiber, phosphorus (energy production and bone growth), pumpkin seeds are a rich source of magnesium (relaxing the uterus from contracting prematurely, helps with restless leg syndrome and muscle twitching), the dried fruit has fiber, and antioxidants. There are a variety of B vitamins (helps with energy and metabolism as well as other bodily functions.) The healthy fats in the nuts and seeds are important for baby’s brain development, as well as regulating your hormones.