Whether you’re pumping, combination feeding, or feeding your baby straight from the breast, breastfeeding is sometimes not an easy task. For some women, it comes so naturally, and it’s such a smooth process. While other women struggle to maintain an adequate milk supply. No matter which category you fall under, there is always hope! Today, your hope comes in the form of blueberry almond lactation squares, hehe!
If you have noticed that recently your milk supply has dwindled a little bit, that’s OK! It could be hormonal, stress related, due to baby struggling to focus when they eat, you not getting enough calories or fluids, or many other reasons. Whatever the reason, you may be looking for different ways to boost your milk supply and continue on with the breastfeeding for a little longer. I’ve got you covered!
I’ve made coconut chocolate chunk lactation cookies and jumbo chocolate chunk lactation muffins before, but I’ve never tried mixing in a fruit. I decided to try using blueberries this time, and it turned out amazing! I’m so excited to share this recipe with you!
There are several main ingredients in this recipe that will help boost your milk supply.
- Brewers yeast. Probably the most popular breastmilk increasing ingredient is brewers yeast. Brewers yeast is rich in B vitamins, protein, iron, and several important trace minerals. This is something you use if you need a huge boost quickly. It’s very potent but also very offputting in flavor. That’s why it’s usually found in sweet treats, the sugar helps cover up the flavor of the yeast.
- Almonds. Almonds are a great source of calcium. Breastfeeding moms have higher calcium needs than the average person. Your milk is high in calcium. If you don’t get enough in your diet, it can negatively impact your body long-term. It’s important to get calcium in where you can, eating an almond here or there is a great way to do that!
- Oats. Oats are another popular milk-boosting food. Beta-glucan is a type of fiber found in oats. Beta-glucan is known for creating higher levels of the hormone prolactin in your body. Higher prolactin=higher milk production.
- Flaxseeds. Flaxseeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids. The fatty oils in flaxseeds can impact your milk supply even if you only consume a little at a time.
All of these ingredients work together to create a delicious combination of milk-boosting properties! Let’s dive right in!
(Note: you can buy lactation cookies online, but they’re pretty expensive and they lack that “fresh taste” that you get with a homemade item. However, if you’d like to look into those cookies, I’ll link them here for you to check out!)
Blueberry Almond Lactation Squares
You will need:
(Wet ingredients)
2 very ripe bananas (Don’t worry, the taste of banana is not strong in these. You can hardly taste the flavor at all.)
1/2 cup of oil
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla (you can also add 1/4 teaspoon almond flavoring if you’d like!)
2/3 cups of sugar
(Dry ingredients)
1 1/2 cups of oats
3/4 cups of flour
2 tablespoons of flaxseeds
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
3 tablespoons of brewers yeast
1/2 cup of slivered almonds
1 cup of fresh blueberries
First, mix together your wet ingredients (Bananas, oil, sugar, vanilla, almond flavoring, eggs) starting with the oil and bananas. Mix until you see no more banana lumps and everything looks completely combined.
Add in your oats, flaxseeds, brewers yeast, and flour. Mix until combined and all lumps are gone.
Add in your salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon.
Once combined, add your slivered almonds, and only stir for 5 to 10 seconds (until loosely combined).
Lastly,
Add your blueberries and carefully stir till they are evenly distributed.
Pour into a greased 9 x 11 pan. Sprinkle an extra handful of blueberries or almonds on top if you desire.
Place in a 325° oven for 30 to 40 minutes. Check your squares often after 30 minutes. Depending on the humidity level in your area, they might be done at 30 minutes. If you have super high humidity, they’ll be done closer to 40 minutes.
Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving. I love to eat these while they’re hot! You can top with powdered sugar or a powdered sugar glaze for some extra added sweetness. Or eat them plain, that’s my favorite way to do it 🙂
This recipe makes 9 to 12 bars, depending on how thick you cut them. If you plan on using these for snacks, I would cut them into 12 bars. If you plan on using these as a breakfast item, I would cut them into nine squares.
I hope you love this recipe as much as I do, and I hope it helps you to continue feeding your baby (and fill your tummy) at the same time. Happy baking!