Mama Milk Balls

These mama milk energy bites are perfect for mom's who need a healthy, quick snack and a little help with enhancing milk production. As a mom I'm a fan of the energy balls. They honestly take about 5 minutes to make, with minimal mess and can be stored in the freezer. I usually make a few batches at once to have on hand for a while.  You can eat these with one hand which can help when your breastfeeding and trying to keep your energy stores up. And though these were made with galactagogues (lactation promoting foods) these make a nice little snack for everyone, my toddler loves them.

The oats and the brewer's yeast have been shown to promote milk production. The walnuts and hemp hearts add a good dose of healthy fats which is so important in keeping up with milk production. I did add Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips so that the recipe tastes a little bit like cookie dough, however they are totally optional. Also be aware that some babes don't respond well to stimulants like cocoa, but I personally never experienced that with my kids when it was in this small amount.

Mama Milk Balls & Increasing Milk Supply

Author: Stephanie || Serves: 13

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw cashews
  • 1/2 cup hemp hearts
  • 1 1/4 cup pitted medjool dates (the softer the better)
  • 1/2 gluten free rolled oats
  • 2 tbsp mini chocolate chips *(optional and I used Enjoy Life which are dairy, gluten and soy free)
  •  1tbsp of ground flax (or substitute with brewers yeast though not gluten free)
  • 1 2  tbsp cashew, almond or sunflower seed butter
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
  • 1/8 tsp or a pinch of sea salt
  • *If dry you may need to add a tbsp or two of water. The mixture should be soft and form into one large ball in the food processor.

Instructions

  1. Start by adding the cashews and the hemp hearts to the food processor. Mix on high speed until finely ground.
  2. Then add the oats, once mixed add the dates until mixed smooth.
  3. Add all remaining ingredients, except for the chocolate chips. Mix until smooth and it usually ends up forming into a ball in the food processor. If the mixture seems a bit dry you may need to add a tbsp or two of water (this can happen if the dates have dried out a bit and are not soft).
  4. Once mixed add the chocolate chips.
  5. Scoop out heaping tablespoons and form into balls.
  6. Place and store in fridge or freezer for a couple of hours before serving (they still taste great right away but will firm up a bit after chilling).

Notes

*Gluten Free Version- I had difficulty finding a brewers yeast that did not have the potential of cross contamination with gluten, so used the flax as a substitute for myself and please do the same if you are gluten intolerant.

*The mini chocolate chips are completely optional. As noted I prefer the Enjoy Life brand as they are dairy free. However, some babies are sensitive to stimulants such as chocolate so you may need to omit if that is the case for you.

For Everyone, PostpartumStephanie MoodySweetsComment