Sian's Oaty Lactation Cookies

When I started breastfeeding I found I got amazing sugar cravings, my particular vice was  chocolate which I devoured by the block. Looking back I realised the cravings hit me while I was feeding my wee man. These cookies are a much healthier version of the energy kick that some mums need when you're being eaten alive by a benevolent parasite. The ingredients in them are all supposed to be galactagogues, (foods or supplements which support milk supply) there are two schools of thought with regards to galactagogues, one being they are efficacious and benificial in most instances and the other being that without correct latch they are useless. My personal take is that some mothers may benefit hugely from supplements if their diet or food intake is inadquate or their energy levels are low, while other mothers may notice little effect at all. If you have a problem with supply you are best placed to examine your latching techniques before diving into supplements. However these tasty treats are good for everyone to enjoy and at the very least provide a nutrient rich treat to nibble on while you are having a nice long nursing session.

Ingredients:



1 cup butter or 3/4 cup rice bran oil
1 cup vanilla sugar (add tsp of vanilla if not avaialble) 
1 cup  soft brown sugar
4 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons flaxseed/linseed meal
2 large eggs
2 cups maida flour/stoneground wholewheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 cups whole oats, organic if you can get them
1 cup of fair trade chocolate chips
4 tablespoons of brewers yeast
2 tablspoons fennel seeds
1 tsp cinnamon

Optional:

1 cup chopped Central Otago dried apricots
1 cup dried Cranberries


Directions:


Preheat oven to 180 Celsius


Combine linseed meal and water in a small cup (I usually grind my own linseed as ground linseed goes rancid very fast) and set to one side


Cream butter or oil and sugar, slowly add the eggs once at a time and then stir in the linseed mixture, add vanilla at this time if putting in separately

 Sift together dry ingredients except for the oats, chocolate chips and fennel seeds and gently add to the creamed mixture. Then stir in the remaining oats, fennel seeds and chocolate chips.


Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably  double lined with baking paper to prevent the bottoms burning and sticking. the dough may be crumbly so a scoop helps.


Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.


This makes an enormous batch of cookies, I had to bake mine in three separate lots. You can add the cranberries or apricots instead of or in addition to the chocolate chips. Some babies react to chocolate via the breastmilk so bear this in mind. Apricots are a super food in terms of nutrients and cranberries are great for your urinary health (or at least saying this makes you feel better about eating the cookies)

If you are gluten intolerant you can replace the flour with 50% almond meal and 50% gluten free substitute such as rice flour. I add some almond meal anyway to increase the protein and calcium levels. I also find the best chocolate is Trade Aid fair trade chocolate block smashed up with a rolling pin!

I find it's really nice to have these cookies on hand for low energy points during the day or while you are caught out breastfeeding and you forgot to eat lunch or somethign daft like that. They also make a great gift for new mothers. The fennel seeds make them taste a little grassy, it's not unpleasant but it is a little different. Fennel seed is also lovely for settling a windy tummy and this benefit is passed on via breastmilk to baby.

Enjoy!