Caring for a new baby can be exhausting. If youโve clicked on this article, youโre likely well aware of that fact already!ย
Life with a newborn can be draining for nursing moms, whose bodies burn extra calories through milk production. These no-bake energy bites come together in just a few minutes, making them the perfect snack for a busy super-mom with no time to spare.
Unlike traditional pecan pie, which takes hours to bake and is packed with refined sugars and butter, these no-bake bites are full of whole foods and can be whipped up on a whim.ย
Theyโre naturally sweetened with the delightful flavor of maple syrup and will satisfy your sweet tooth with the healthful, energy-boosting benefits of whole foods. Delicious chai-inspired spices and the delicate sweetness of maple syrup add irresistible flair to these bites, which are sure to become a staple in your postpartum snack arsenal.
To keep your energy levels up while breastfeeding, itโs essential to consume extra, healthy snacks throughout the day. Remember, when youโre nursing, youโre eating for two! The best choices for snack foods are unprocessed, whole, and natural foods that will supply your body with lasting energy.ย
Being a mom can be chaotic, so sometimes, all you want is a quick and easy recipe for a snack to fill you up and help you take on the day. In this case, energy balls are the perfect solution! These quick, no-bake treats are packed with healthy fats and nutrients, which can boost not only your energy levels but your milk production, too.
Pecan Pie Lactation Energy Balls: Ingredients
Quick Oats
Oats form the bulk of these energy balls and give them their cookie-dough-like consistency. These grains are high in iron, magnesium, zinc, and fiber, making them a fantastic food choice for nursing mothers.ย
If you are fatigued, one cause could be anemia or low iron levels.ย
Low iron can also cause a decrease in milk production. For this reason, oats are a common and traditional remedy used by nursing women to increase their milk supply. Adding oats to your energy balls is a great way to get a natural boost of iron, energy, and fiber!
Nuts & Nut Butter
Healthy fats are an essential component of breast milk. They are essential to developing your childโs nervous system, vision, and cardiovascular system. Fats are also crucial to nursing babies because of the huge energy they deliver in a compact package.ย
For babies whose tummies are too small to hold very much food, healthy fats are an essential energy source during the early stages of life.ย
Nuts and nut butters are fantastic sources of these healthy fats, even in small servings. In addition, nuts are high in protein, which babiesโ developing bodies crave. Your milk is very protein-rich; therefore, you must replenish your own bodyโs protein store while nursing. Nuts are a great way to boost your protein intake and support milk production.
Pecansย
This recipe calls for pecans, a known milk-supply booster, or galactagogue, containing 2.25 grams of protein and 171 calories in a quarter-cup serving. Pecans provide healthy fats that are an essential part of a nursing womanโs diet.
Almond Butter
The almond butter in this recipe is an essential binding agent and helps the energy balls stay together. However, it is also a necessary source of nutrients. Lactating women require a higher intake than most nutrient choline, and almonds are a great source at 15mg choline per one-ounce serving.
When shopping for nut butter, make sure to read labels carefully! The products that pack the most healthful punch for you and your baby are nut butter made exclusively of nuts, without added sugars, sweeteners, or oils.
Sweetener
Sweetening these energy balls with maple syrup provides a tasty flavor boost, and the naturally derived maple sugars are a fantastic way to get a quick jolt of energy! Make sure to look for maple syrup marked โ100% realโ rather than artificial syrups. The refined sugars in imitation syrups are not recommended for consumption by nursing mothers.
Maca Powder
Maca powder, commonly called a โsuperfood,โ is the powdered form of a root vegetable with many health benefits. Maca has been shown to help raise energy levels and balance hormones in men and women, making it a great addition to a post-delivery diet.ย
This superfood can also fight toxins in the body through its antioxidant properties, lower blood pressure, and can even give a boost to your mood! Maca doesnโt need to be ingested in large quantities for its beneficial effects to be felt, so even a little bit of maca powder in your energy balls can make a big difference.
Spices
The spices are what make these pecan pie bites pop. This recipe calls for ginger, allspice, cardamom, and a dash of cinnamon, giving a hint of chai flavor to these bites. Ginger is a fantastic remedy for indigestion that some women experience after pregnancy.ย
In addition, because the foods you eat affect your breast milk's flavor, some moms like to play around with spices and see what their baby is drawn to.ย
Instructions
Serving size: two to three energy balls; recipe makes six balls.
Combine dry ingredients.
In a large bowl, whisk to combine:
- 1 cup quick oats
- ยฝ cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 tsp each ground ginger, allspice, cardamom, and cinnamon
- 1 tsp maca powder
Add Wet Ingredients
Over the oat mixture, drizzle:
- ยผ cup maple syrup
- ยผ cup almond butter
Mix with a wooden spoon until the mixture is uniform throughout. Add more nut butter if the mixture looks dry, and more oats if it wonโt hold together.
Form Balls
Now, itโs time to get your hands dirty! Using a cookie-dough scooper or a spoon, scoop out uniform portions of the mixture, and roll them between your palms until they are smooth and round.ย
Place the balls onto a cookie sheet and place them in the refrigerator (or the freezer if you are craving a pecan-pie ice treat!)
Chill for at Least One Hour
Chilling in the refrigerator or freezer helps the energy balls firm up and gives them a nice, satisfying texture.
Enjoy!
These snack balls make a wonderful breakfast for the mom on the go, but theyโre also fantastic as an afternoon pick-me-up. They can be stored in the refrigerator for up to five days or in the freezer for a month.ย
Snack-prepping, or making a big batch ahead of time and freezing the extras, is a great way to make sure youโve always got a snack on hand when you need one!
In Conclusion
Life with a young child can certainly be exhausting, but it is a wonderfully special time, too. When you make time to relax, stay hydrated, and prepare healthy, flavorful foods, you are not only taking good care of yourself but of your child, too.ย
Healthy snacks like these lactation energy balls are a great way to supplement your diet with the extra boost of healthy calories and nutrients you need as a nursing mother.ย
The slow-burning nutrition in these energy balls will keep you in high spirits for hours. Pair them with a natural, lactation-safe, and electrolyte-rich energy drink for an added boost, and turn your snacktime into your superpower. Bon appetit!
Sources:
Foods to eat and avoid while breastfeeding | Medical News Todayย