Gluten-Free Almond and Chocolate Chip Lactation Cookies

These cookies were created by a mother of 2 who uses this exact recipe to help her own milk production during breastfeeding. The cookies are designed to help maintain milk production, and can even increase it in some women. While there is no scientific research on the effectiveness of lactation cookies, the anecdotal evidence from women who experience noticeable increases in breastmilk production is astounding! When making these lactation cookies, try to use organic and local ingredients wherever possible. (They're better for you, and for baby!)

The cookies work because of the magical combination of rolled oats, brewer's yeast, flax, and coconut oil. The most important of these is the brewer's yeast: we added some naturally sweet ingredients in the recipe to help counteract its bitter taste. If you're already breastfeeding, you could also try eating the dough: it seems to be even more effective at increasing breastmilk supply! 

Flax seeds are high in omega-3 and dietary fibre, and they contain calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc and potassium. These healthy cookies are high in fibre and low in cholesterol, meaning that they will not only give your breastmilk production a boost, but they’ll support a healthy, happy heart and body too.

**IMPORTANT NOTE: When it comes to lactation cookies, definitely don't leave out or substitute the brewer's yeast: it’s one of the main ingredients that makes them work the way they do! Nutritional yeast and baker's yeast are different, and will not work in the same way.

Ingredients

• 2 ½ cups certified gluten-free organic rolled oats
• 4 tbsp. whole flax seeds
• ½ cup almond milk
• ½ cup almond butter
• ½ cup coconut oil
• 1 cup coconut sugar
• 4 heaping tbsp. brewer's yeast    **see Important Note, above
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• ½ tsp. aluminum free baking soda
• ½ tsp. Himalayan salt
• ½ cup organic dark chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Place two cups of rolled oats and whole flax seeds in blender and blend on high until it becomes a fine flour.
4. Pour flour into a medium sized mixing bowl. Add in ½ cup of rolled oats, brewer's yeast, coconut sugar, baking soda and salt. Mix well.
5. Place almond butter and coconut oil in a small sauce pan and heat over low until coconut oil is melted and mixes easily with almond butter.
6. Add warm almond and coconut oil mixture to dry ingredients along with almond milk and vanilla extract.
7. Mix well until thoroughly combined.
8. Add chocolate chips and kneed them in using clean hands.
9. Place one tablespoon of cookie dough onto the baking pan at a time, gently using your fingers to slightly flatten them.
10. Cook for 10-12 minutes.
11. Gently transfer to cooling rack and allow to cool completely.

Enjoy! Happy breastfeeding!

 recipe by: Julia Davie, Registered Holistic Nutritionist

Check out our pregnancy series: From Bump to Baby, and Everything in Between!

This blog series outlines a NutriChem Mom's guide to the best products at each step of her pregnancy journey. Click each image to read the articles

 [Part 1]  The Belly!  

The 8 Products That Will Revolutionize Your Pregnancy

[Part 2]  The Bag! 

Pack a Delivery Room Bag That New Moms Everywhere Will Wish They’d Packed

[Part 3]  The Body! 

Post-Pregnancy “Fun” Times: Help for Breastfeeding, Scarring, and GI Issues

 

[Part 4]  The Baby! 

The 11 Products for Baby that You Won’t Want To Leave Home Without

Additional information regarding breastfeeding

If you're having problems breastfeeding, do not fret! Most problems that people experience are preventable and fixable: just ask someone who's done it. Usually, breastfeeding difficulties are caused by incorrect latch or scheduled feeding, and only a small percentage are caused by medical conditions (like hypoplasia in Mom (which is insufficient glandular breast tissue), or Baby with lip-tie or tongue-tied).

For support with your breastfeeding, please contact the La Leche League or hire a lactation consultant to help get to the root of the problem.

Breastfeeding resources in Ottawa

• La Leche League Canada – Ottawa Chapter, 613-238-5919: For breastfeeding information and support, 7 days a week, visit www.lllc.ca, or e-mail lllcottawa@gmail.com.
• For private lactation consultant services, visit www.ovlc.net. There is a fee for these services.
• Ottawa Public Health Information Line at 613-580-6744, ext. 28020. Public Health Nurses are available Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm
• Telehealth Ontario, 1-866-797-0000, access to expert advice and support for breastfeeding 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Ottawabreastfeeds.ca, provides Ottawa and regional families with easy access to information about the many sources of breastfeeding support 
• Your doctor or midwife
• Click here to access a list of additional Breastfeeding Supports in the City of Ottawa.