Lactation energy bites are a quick and delicious way to get calories and galactagogues in the body of a breastfeeding mom. Galactagogues are substances that increase milk supply and there are three of them in this lactation energy bites recipe!

Why Eat Lactation Energy Bites

Lactation energy bites may help women to increase or maintain their milk supply, but will also keep their energy levels high. The caloric demands of a breastfeeding mother combined with sleep deprivation requires lots of tasty snacks!

The cool thing about these energy bites is that they do not require baking, or any fancy kitchen equipment. Houses will stay cool, while mamas and their babies will stay cool, too.

The galactagogues in this particular energy bites recipe are old fashioned rolled oats, brewers yeast, ground flaxseed. After increasing the consumption of these particular foods, many women have reported an increase or been able to maintain their breastmilk supply.

My secret lactation energy bite ingredient, however, is coconut oil. Did you know that coconut oil helps to make breastmilk better? Mothers who ingest and use coconut oil topically will make their breastmilk better by strengthening its antimicrobial properties.

NOTE:  If you are struggling to breastfeed your baby please do not use these lactation energy bites as your first line of defense. Instead, visit an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant). Often times, it is not that a mother can’t produce enough milk, but more so other that things need to be adjusted, like fixing the latch, or feeding on demand, etc. Sometimes new moms evaluate their breastmilk supply based on what can be expressed via a breast pump (which by the way isn’t a good representation of what a baby takes in), which can be discouraging.

It takes a team of support for a woman to successfully breastfeed her child. So instead of relying solely on lactation energy bites, think of them like the cherry on top. Yes, they can help increase milk production and clearly, they taste delicious, but it’s just one piece of the support system a parent needs to successfully feed their baby.

Lactation Energy Bites for All the New Moms

The following are instructions on how to make super yummy lactation bites that honestly, anybody can eat – breastfeeding or not! Let’s get started!

NOTE:  If you prefer a cookie, check out my lactation cookie recipe. Delicious!

Supplies and Ingredients

First, gather all the supplies and ingredients together in one place. (The exact amounts are on the recipe card at the bottom of this post.)

a baking sheet
parchment paper
bowl
measuring spoons and cups
spoon
old fashioned rolled oats
brewers yeast
ground flaxseed
peanut butter
honey
coconut oil
salt
vanilla
dark chocolate chips
shredded coconut

Directions

1. In a large bowl, add all ingredients.

2. Stir together until combined.

3. Roll mixture into 18 balls, about 1 heaping tablespoon each.

4. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. 

5. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to firm up. 

6. Enjoy or refrigerate in an airtight container until ready to eat. (My favorite way to eat lactation energy bites are when they’re frozen because it makes me feel like I’m eating a dessert. It’s the little things, my friends.)

Tips, Tricks and Notes

• If you have a nut allergy, you can use sunflower butter in this recipe. 
• If you use a natural peanut butter in this recipe, the mixture may be a bit looser. Refrigerate the mixture for 10 minutes before rolling into balls for easier handling.
• You can use any type of chocolate chip you’d like. 
• I would not recommend using more brewer’s yeast or flax than the recipe calls for as it will start to taste bitter. 
• If you are gluten-free, make sure you use gluten-free certified oats or purity protocol oats.
• If you are vegan, you can use pure maple syrup instead of honey and use vegan chocolate chips. 
• These bites keep well in an airtight container for about a week. If you would like to store them for longer, you can freeze them and then defrost in the refrigerator.