Galactagogues. No, this isn’t some term for some group of interstellar superheroes. A galactagogue is a food that helps boost milk supply in nursing mothers. Not a breastfeeding mama? Don’t worry. These foods won’t actually CAUSE you to lactate. In fact, if you had a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast… congratulations! You just ate a galactagogue!
Since I am anticipating the birth of my little one in the next few weeks, I decided to make myself a little treat that I could enjoy while breastfeeding. And what better treat to indulge in than a truffle? You can make these for yourself if you’re a nursing mama, or, even better, if you KNOW a nursing mother, then you can make these as a special treat for her! You can, or course, make these truffles even if you’re not breastfeeding. Just call them Oatmeal Cookie Truffles if you’re not making them for lactation purposes. Oatmeal, flaxseeds, oats, almond butter, and brewer’s yeast are all galactagogues, but they’re also really healthy foods that are full of nutrients everybody needs in their diet!
And note that these truffles are not a miracle cure for any breastfeeding troubles you might be having… Breastfeeding is all about supply and demand, so the best way to increase your milk supply is to nurse, nurse, nurse your baby! And Mamas, please take note, if you or someone you know is struggling with breastfeeding, I HIGHLY encourage you to reach out to your local La Leche League… I have found my local La Leche League to be an invaluable source of information and support! Making food for a human being isn’t exactly an easy job, and it’s important to have a good support system. So for all those mamas out there who are working hard to take care of their little humans… WE SUPPORT YOU! And if we could, we’d hand you a truffle right now, through your screen.
Ingredients
*Makes about 24 truffles
- 1 cup oats
- ½ cup dates
- ½ cup of prunes, rasins, or other dried fruit
- ½ cup almond butter
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons ground flaxseeds
- 2 tablespoons Brewer’s Yeast (optional if not making these for lactation purposes)
- 6-8 oz vegan chocolate (chocolate chips or a bar)
- Gogi berries, dried cranberries, nuts, or oats, for garnish (optional)
Directions
- 1. Pulse together all of the ingredients, except for the chocolate, in your food processor until the ingredients form a ball of dough.
- Alternatively, if you don’t have a food processor, you can chop up the dates and dried fruit very finely and mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. If mixing by hand, you may need to add an extra tablespoon or two of almond butter to get everything to stick together.
- Roll the dough into walnut sized balls. (At this point, you can skip the chocolate-dipping step and just enjoy the oat balls as they are. They make a great snack. Just refrigerate or freeze to store. However, if you want a chocolate truffle… proceed to the next step!)
- f you’re using a chocolate bar, chop your chocolate into small pieces.
- Melt ¾ of your chocolate in a small saucepan under low heat. Stir constantly. When the chocolate is completely melted and warm, remove from the heat and add the rest of the chocolate, stirring so that it will melt completely.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Using a fork, dip each ball into the chocolate, coating all sides. Place on the parchment paper. If using a garnish, place the garnish into the truffle while the chocolate is still soft. Allow the chocolate to set. Store in the fridge or freezer for optimum shelf life.
- Sit back, relax, have a truffle, and nurse your baby!
