Lactation Bars – What to Bring To a New Mom Instead of a Lasagna
Seems like everyone I know is having babies these days.
I always like to bring something over a few days after they get home in the way of a meal or a 6 pack (always good) but never really know what they’ll want. Do they want something healthy? Do they want something hot or cold? Meat or vegetarian? I wanted to think of something a little more useful to bring over than just a lasagna.
I did a little research into what might be useful for Moms who are starting to breastfeed, and since I have no personal experience I surveyed a ton of Moms on the subject too. I got an overwhelming amount of responses and the two main ingredients that people said were helpful in milk production were oatmeal and brewers yeast. I also found through my research that apricots and flax were useful as well.
After a few tries on these bars I managed to squeeze in 1/2 cup of brewers yeast, 3 cups of oatmeal, 4 Tbsp of flax, 10 dried apricots and 4 Tbsp of apricot spread and they still taste great! I have been trying them out on my friend who is a new mom and she said it really helped her milk production too.
I know not every mom chooses to breastfeed so these are honestly just great for helping boost energy and brewers yeast is known to improve hair and nails as well. I have been eating these as a little afternoon pick-me-up, and my friend said that her husband has been eating them for dessert, so there’s that!
In this recipe I call for “good cocoa powder” and by that I mean something like this which is the kind I always have in my pantry and I love. Don’t use something like Hershey’s, it won’t be the same. (Honestly you should never use that).
Also, the brewers yeast that I use I found on Amazon and I really like it!
Have fun!
- 3 cups old fashioned oats
- 4 Tbsp ground flax meal
- 3/4 cup natural salted, smooth peanut butter
- 1 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 Tbsp good unsweetened cocoa powder (Guittard, not Hershey's)
- 4 Tbsp apricot spread
- pinch kosher salt
- 1 cup raisins
- 10 dried apricots, chopped
- 1/2 cup brewers yeast
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In a large skillet, lightly toast the oats for about 4-5 minutes over low-medium heat or until they just start to get a little fragrant. Make sure to shake the pan or stir them often. Remove from heat and add flax meal. Stir to combine and pulse about 10 times in the food processor to break them down a bit but don't turn them into flour.
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In a large bowl combine the chocolate chips, peanut butter and coconut oil. Microwave for 30 second intervals stirring in between until melted and smooth.
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Add cocoa powder, salt, honey and apricot preserves to chocolate. Whisk until smooth. Using a spatula combine in raisins, apricots and yeast. Finally add in the pulsed oatmeal and flax.
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Line a 9 by 9 baking dish with parchment paper and add in mixture. Using moist hands to prevent sticking, push mixture down into the pan until it is all the same thickness and the top is smooth. Set in the fridge for 2 hours (at least) or until totally set and hard.
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Grasp both sides of the parchment and lift out the bar. Remove parchment and cut into 16 squares (or more, or less) using a sharp knife. Keep in the fridge until you're ready to eat them or give them to someone. Because of the coconut oil, these will want to melt so make sure to tell whoever you're giving them to to keep them in the fridge.
