Healthy Energy Bar Recipes

If you want to make more milk for your baby, you can try making tasty lactation bars. These bars have special things inside that could help you make more breast-milk.

You can buy these bars from a shop or online, but they can be pricey and not very big. It’s easier on your wallet if you make them yourself. Want to give it a go? We’ve got some recipes for lactation bars that you can try out.

How do lactation bars help with breastfeeding?

Lactation bars are not just any regular snacks. They taste yummy, but what’s even cooler is they have special stuff inside called galactagogues. These are like helpers that tell your body to make more milk for your baby.

Inside lactation bars, you might find things like oats. These have a lot of something called iron, which is good for you. There’s also something called brewer’s yeast in there. This has iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and a special thing called vitamin B. All of these things work together to make more breast-milk.

Other things that can be in these bars are flaxseed and chia seeds. These things are also like helpers for milk. Chia seeds have iron and something called omega-3 fatty acids. Flaxseed has omega-3s too and something called phytoestrogens, which are like the hormones your body already has.

Even though scientists aren’t totally sure yet if these helpers really work, lots of moms say they help them make more milk. So, if you’re having trouble making enough milk, it’s okay to give these helpers a try.

Just remember, before you try the helpers, make sure your baby is drinking milk often and in the right way. How much milk you make depends on how much milk comes out. If you need to, you can also use a special machine to get the milk out.

Here are some easy-to-make recipes for special bars that can help make more milk for your baby. You can try these if you’re looking for snacks that are good for you and your milk supply.

1. No-Bake Chocolate Lactation Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 banana
• 1/4 cup coconut oil (a bit like butter)
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (or sunflower seed butter if needed)
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder (chocolate powder)
• 2 tbsp ground flax (kind of like seeds)
• 2 tbsp chia seeds (more seeds)
• 1 cup oatmeal (like cereal)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (a bit like tiny coconut pieces)
• 1/4 cup raisins, dried cranberries, or dried cherries (dried fruit)
• 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (if you like nuts)
• 1-2 tbsp raw honey (if you want it sweet)

Instructions:

1. Mash the banana with a fork in a big bowl.
2. Mix in coconut oil and peanut (or other nut or seed) butter.
3. Add chia seeds, flax, and cocoa powder and mix well.
4. Put in oatmeal and coconut flakes and mix with a spatula (kind of like a flat spoon).
5. Add in the dried fruit, nuts (if using), and honey (if using).
6. Line a rectangular pan with paper.
7. Pour the mix into the pan and flatten it.
8. Freeze for 30 minutes.
9. Cut a piece and eat it.
10. Keep the rest in the freezer so they don’t melt.

2. Chocolate-Cherry-Coconut Lactation Bars with Quinoa

Ingredients:

• 2 cups rolled oats (like cereal)
• 1 ½ cups chopped dried cherries (dried fruit)
• 1 ⅓ cups uncooked quinoa (kind of like rice)
• 1 cup chopped almonds (optional; use if not allergic)
• ⅔ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• 2 tbsp flaxseed meal (kind of like ground seeds)
• ¼ cup brewer’s yeast (special yeast)
• 2 ounces’ semi-sweet chocolate chips (chocolate bits)
• 1 cup creamy almond butter
• ½ cup + 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• ½ teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Bake oats and quinoa for 8 minutes, then let them cool.
3. Put the oats and quinoa in a big bowl.
4. Add cherries, coconut flakes, yeast, flaxseed, and chocolate chips (and almonds if using).
5. Heat honey, almond butter, oil, and salt in a pot, then mix.
6. Pour the mix into the bowl with oats and quinoa.
7. Stir everything well.
8. Grease baking dishes and put the mixture in them.
9. Bake for 11 minutes.
10. Let cool, then cut into bars and enjoy.

3. Nut-Free, Gluten-Free, and Vegan Lactation Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats (like cereal)
• 3/4 cup gluten-free crispy rice cereal (like crunchy rice)
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds (or other seeds if needed)
• 1/4 cup pepitas (kind of like pumpkin seeds)
• 1/4 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/3 cup dried cherries or cranberries or any dried fruit
• 2 tbsp unsweetened dried shredded coconut
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 cup brown rice syrup (a sweet sticky thing)
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup (like a natural sweet sauce)
• 1/4 cup smooth sunflower seed butter (or other nut or seed butter)
• 1/2 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Line a baking pan with paper.
2. Mix all dry stuff in a big bowl.
3. Warm up rice syrup, maple syrup, nut/seed butter, and oil in a pot.
4. Pour the warm mix into the dry mix and stir well.
5. Spread the mix in the pan and press down.
6. Freeze for a bit.
7. Cut into bars and wrap each one.
8. Keep in the fridge or freezer.

4. Pumpkin Lactation Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 1/4 cups old-fashioned oats (like cereal)
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 2 tbsp brewer’s yeast (special yeast)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 can pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 2 eggs (or egg substitutes)
• 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
• 2 tsp vanilla
• Cranberries and/or chocolate chips (optional add-ins)

Instructions:

1. Heat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix all dry ingredients in a big bowl.
3. Mix in all wet ingredients.
4. Add cranberries and/or chocolate chips if you want.
5. Grease a pan and pour in the mix.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
7. Let cool, then cut into bars and enjoy!

5. Choco-Banana Lactation Bar Cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups gluten-free rolled oats (kind of like cereal)
• 1/4 cup maple syrup (sweet stuff)
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (like magic powder for baking)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt (a little bit of salty taste)
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon (spice that tastes good)
• 1/2 cup milk (or other milk you like)
• 2 tablespoons ground flax seed (like tiny seeds)
• 2 tablespoons water
• 2 tablespoons brewer’s yeast (special yeast)
• 2 ripe bananas (nice and soft bananas)
• 1/2 cup almond butter (or other nut or seed butter)
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chocolate morsels (like small chocolate bits)

Instructions:

1. Heat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (kind of hot).
2. Grease an 8×8 baking pan (a baking dish) with a bit of cooking spray (like oil in a spray can).
3. Mix half of the ground flax seed (1 tablespoon) with the water and let it sit for a moment.
4. Put all the other ingredients in a food processor or blender, except the chocolate chips.
5. Blend everything together until it becomes smooth (like a creamy mix).
6. Add the chocolate chips and mix them in.
7. Pour the mix into the baking pan you greased earlier.
8. Bake in the oven for about 30-40 minutes (until they’re ready).
9. Let the cookies cool down a bit.
10. Now you can enjoy your delicious cookies!

Remember, these cookies might help you make more milk for your baby.

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