Flourless Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars {lactation bars!}
I've made these over and over again the last few months because I'm addicted to sweet things for breakfast, because they're quick and easy, and because Ruthie so often asks me for sweets. Like all the time. She likes to stand in front of the "freezerator" and ask "what's going on in there"... "I better look and see".
Things Ruthie randomly asks for:
1. Marshmallows
2. Taffy (wtf?)
3. Larabars
4. Chocolate chips
5. Ice cream cones
6. Count Chocula (thanks mimi)
7. Bagels (whatev that's fine but we never have them, like how do you even know what a bagel is?)
8. "A treat" aka surprise me I guess.
I love when she demands such luxuries, but I rarely have any of these things on hand and I THINK part of parenting is saying no when your toddler asks for taffy at 7 AM. So I made these bars as an answer to one or two of the requests for sweets. I'm not gonna lie, they don't always cut it for her. When she wants marshmallows, this cocoa oat thing Ruthie's crunchy-granola mom made might not do. But she will accept it as a normal snack or breakfast outside of treat time.
These bars are similar to some of my favorites lactation cookies but super simple and quick to make. Oats are one of the most common and effective breast milk boosting foods, and I'm always looking for a new, non-boring way to eat 'em.
There are lots of herbs and like fenugreek or brewers yeast among the list of proven milk boosters, but super familiar foods like oats also top the list. Most of the information I've seen suggests that consuming something for milk production is very rarely even necessary, but if you're a pumping mom, it's always nice to see a little boost. I've never compared ounces produced after eating a lactation cookie or a bunch of oatmeal, but all of the food based boosters I know of are pretty darn healthy (oats, flaxseed, coconut oil, almonds...).
One thing is for damn sure, breastfeeding makes you hungry. I try to make a few things every week that I can have on hand to grab when I am so suddenly starving that I eat half a jar of peanut butter. Just a plus if oats are involved. Not gonna hurt anything to eat more oats, that's what Grandpa Laura always says.
