Seems like lactation cookies are a huge craze nowadays. Lactation cookie companies in addition to other lactation making foods and drugs are making millions of dollars… but do they actually hold truth to its claim? Do lactation cookies actually boost your milk supply?
(Be sure to try my other healthy lactation recipes: Peanut butter and Chocolate Lactation Bars or my Green Lactation Smoothie)
.Well first, let me explain what lactation cookies are. Lactation cookies are cookies that contain “galactagogues,” which simply means a food or drug that promotes or increases milk production. Some examples of galactagogues are oats, brewers yeast, fenugreek, Mother’s Milk, domperidone etc. The problem is, there isn’t enough evidence saying HOW MUCH of it you need and how pure it needs to be in order to boost milk production.
Herbal galactagogues are not regulated by the FDA and it can actually pose side effects on both the mom and baby. Since they’re not regulated, the quality and quantity is inconsistent, so you can’t be sure you’re getting the same dosage every time. Since science hasn’t stated how much of a galactagogue you need to increase your milk production, manufacturers can essentially put a negligible amount and it still be considered a “milk boosting” supplement, tea, or cookie.
As a lactation consultant, specifically an IBCLC, I never recommend buying pill form herbal galactagogues like fenugreek, mother’s milk, blessed thistle etc, because it’s not regulated and who knows what kind of other stuff manufacturers are putting in there. Many times moms will notice an increase in milk production but as soon as they stop taking the product, their milk supply drastically drops, until they get back on the product. This is great for the companies! They get you dependent on their product, so that you have to keep buying more. I’ve heard stories of it actually helping moms and that’s awesome! but I’ve also heard of moms spending loads of money and it didn’t change anything.
Galactagogues will only work in conjunction to milk removal by either pumping or breastfeeding frequently. What drives milk production is milk removal – it’s that supply and demand.
As a dietitian, I do push healthy foods, which also act as galactagogues – like Old Fashioned oats, brewer’s yeast, steel cut oats, flaxseed etc, since natural foods hold the least threat compared to pill form. Since I want mothers to be successful with breastfeeding and if galactagogues do work for the mother, I want them to choose something that will not threaten their bodies or bring excess junk (like processed sugar and fat).
In my search for “healthy lactation cookies” every recipe that popped up was filled with sugar, fats, and oils. I was mind blown! How many cookies do you have to eat to actually see the effects? Why are mothers loading their bodies with all this processed junk?
I had to create something healthy for my mothers to take. Even typing in “vegan lactation cookies” still contained a good amount of coconut oil. So let me tell you…my lactation cookie is 100% natural, no processed sugar, no butter, no oils, it’s vegan/plant based, no soy, no dairy, super nutritious, that even if you’re not wanting to make milk you’ll still benefit from it. I use dates and bananas as natural sweeteners and I loaded it with brain healthy fats and fiber.
I made two different batches in my trial and error. My first batch I used dry whole oats in the recipe and it was a little too dry for my husband’s liking but he suggested eating it with yogurt or something to moisten it more. The reason why it tastes dry is because I’m not using oil or eggs, which would moisten it and make it softer. In typical oatmeal cookie recipe, they add so much oil, butter and eggs and that’s what makes it moist.
Thanks to my husband’s suggestion, I made a second batch, this time I soaked my old fashioned oats and my steel cut oats in almond milk overnight so that they were nice and moist in the morning. I put enough almond milk to make it soft but not “mushy”. I then proceeded to use the overnight oats in my recipe.
However, to save my typical mother time and energy, this recipe is with the non-moistened old fashioned oats, which honestly I think I prefer. I decided to make them into breakfast bars, because it’s so much easier to pour it all into a pan, than to spend time rolling it out into small balls. I mean, who’s got time for that?!
In a food processor I blended dates, and a variety of nuts (almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds) until it was a mealy, crumbly texture (which is my ‘flour’). In a separate bowl, I took the old fashioned oats, steel cut oats, date mixture, and added the brewer’s’ yeast, chia seeds, flaxseed, craisins, and dark chocolate chip (choose dairy free). I then mashed in my 3 bananas to hold it all together. You can either mash it all with a fork, but I got down and dirty and used my hands 😉 You can add other things as well, such as coconut flakes, peanut butter, or other nuts/seeds, or even flaxseed meal, for additional boost. Be creative.
Grease a 13 x 9 x 2 baking pan (a huge must as this recipe does not call for oil) and pour the mixture and flatten to fill all edges of the pan. I like to use aluminum foil for easy clean up.
Bake for 20-30 minutes, or depending how soft and gooey you like it you can adjust the timing. Remember there’s no egg in it so you could potentially eat them uncooked.
You’ll have to buy some ingredients you don’t typically have lying around like brewer’s yeast or possibly dates, but this recipe makes a big batch and you’ll have energy and all the health perks. Definitely worth it. From the mothers I’ve offered it to already, they did notice a difference in their milk supply! Let me know how they work for you
What’s in it for mom and baby?
Not only are these breastmilk making cookies/bars, but there’s so much nutrition for both mom AND baby. For mom, the cookies are loaded with fiber, folate, iron, omega 3 fatty acid, protein, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, and antioxidants.
For baby – all the seeds and nuts, have a huge impact on the TYPE of healthy fat your baby is getting. These omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to help with baby’s brain development.
Nutritious Lactation Bars
What’s in it for mom and baby?
For mom, the cookies may help with milk production as well as they are loaded with fiber, folate, iron, omega 3 fatty acid, protein, calcium, potassium, vitamin B6, and antioxidants.
For baby – all the seeds and nuts, have a huge impact on the TYPE of healthy fat your baby is getting. These omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to help with baby’s brain development.
Ingredients
- 3 cups Old fashioned oats
- 1 cup Steel cut oats
- 1 cup Pitted dates
- 3 Bananas
- 1 cup Walnuts
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 cup Almonds
- 1/4 cup Sunflower seeds
- 2 tbsp Brewer’s yeast
- 1 tbsp Chia seeds
- 1 tbsp Flaxseed
- 1 cup Dark chocolate chips (vegan chocolate chips)
- 1 cup craisins
Instructions
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Heat oven to 375 degrees
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Place in a food processor the dates, walnuts, almonds, and sunflower seeds and blend until a mealy/crumbly texture
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In a bowl, add the old fashioned oats, steel cut oats, bananas, and crumbly date/nut mixture, Then add the brewer’s yeast, salt, flaxseed, chia seeds, dark chocolate chips, and craisins
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Grease a 13 x 9 x 2 baking pan (its huge must to grease it, since there’s no oil in the recipe)
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Pour the mixture into the baking sheet or pan and flatten out so all edges are covered.
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Bake for 20-30 minutes, depending on how gooey, soft, and moist you like them. (Since there’s no egg you could potentially eat it uncooked).
Recipe Notes
If you want your cookies/bars to be more moist and soft, make overnight oats by placing the old fashioned oats, steel cut oats and almond milk in a bowl and cover then let sit in the fridge overnight until the oats have absorbed all the liquid. Then proceed using the moistened oats in the recipe.
You can also add a variety of other foods or increase the amount of brewers yeast or add flaxseed meal as well – have fun with this recipe! I did
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