Firstly I am not going to suggest that these are magic fix all cookies.. they are simply a delish snack with ingredients to support lactation. I have found my supply (and that of my clients) increase when these ingredients are enjoyed, so to have them all in a one-handed delight is rather wonderful.
There are several ways to support lactation and breastmilk supply. It is key to enjoy a balance of wholefood ingredients throughout the postpartum stage and during lactation. We also want to ensure that you are having enough water (at least 2-3L a day) and enough food in general to support the energy requirements of breastmilk production. We require an additional 500 calories (approx 2000 kilojoules) of energy when breastfeeding, so getting enough wholefoods in throughout the day is essential.
There are also specific a specific category of herbs, galactagogues, which can encourage breastmilk production in some women, however before bringing out the herbs, nutrition and lifestyle always a good place to start and achievable for everyone to try.
These cookies are delicious and crunchy (which I adore in a good cookie), they also have some of the key ingredients to supporting breastmilk production – oats, honey, butter, brewers yeast and linseed meal.
As they contain oats they are not gluten free, you could try using almond meal as a replacement, however, you would be removing one of the key lactation support ingredients.
so, why these ingredients specifically?
OATS – there are a few reasons for oats and their lactation support. Firstly they are high-ish in iron, a mineral essential for milk supply. From a TCM perspective, they are warm, sweet and tonifying; meaning that they support blood building and blood flow. They are also grounding in flavour and support Qi, something new mums generally need a little bit more of. They are also a source of carbohydrates and energy which we already know we need slightly more of.
BREWERS YEAST – Brewer’s yeast has a slightly salty (and well, yeasty) flavour so it pairs well with earthy flavours. It is a power source of B Vitamins and how vegemite gets its magic.
ORGANIC BUTTER – butter is one of my favourite foods, it is rich in good fat and also fat-soluble vitamins. As it is a fat it is low in milk solids so it is generally tolerated by most people. Breastmilk has a high-fat content so we want to ensure we are having ample good fat in our diet, it is also suggested that the fat is able to transfer into the breastmilk to support the satiety of the infants.
HONEY – a natural sweetener and a delish pick me up for those long afternoons. From a TCM perspective, honey supports how the other ingredients do their job. It can spike blood glucose levels though.
LINSEEDS / LINSEED MEAL – these little brown seeds are often known for their bowel supporting powders, they are also a source of phytoestrogens which can support lactation. when using ground linseed ideally store them in the fridge in a dark jar / container.
now the fun part, the recipe!
I N G R E D I E N T S
2 cups of organic whole rolled oats
1/4 cup buckwheat flour
2 tablespoons linseed meal
1 tablespoon brewers yeast
1/4 cup melted butter
1/4 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1-2cm piece of fresh ginger
M E T H O D
Preheat the oven to 150 degrees C.
- In a food processor place the fresh ginger process to chop. you can also do this step with a microplane.
- Add in the whole oats and pulse to roughly chop, you don’t want to process for too long or else the oats will turn into oat flour. I like to have some oats whole.
- Add in brewers yeast, baking powder, cinnamon and pulse again to combine.
- In a small pot over low heat, add the butter and honey and stir until combined. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. the mixture should be crumbly but stay lightly together when pressed.
- Using a tablespoon spoon out the cookies on a lined baking tray, carefully use the spoon to spread out the cookie nice and thin (this will make them crunchy after baking).
- Place into the oven and bake for 10 minutes, careful not to let them burn but rather get to a delish brown.
- Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before enjoying.
Alyce x