Fueling your Body to Help with Feeding

As a first-time mom, it quickly became apparent that as much as I loved spending time crafting elaborate meals in the kitchen, those days had to take a back seat. Thankfully I’ve been able to use my nutrition background as a Holistic Nutritionist to figure out what foods will fuel my body to function after little sleep and to boost my milk supply for my little one.

Fuel for mamas needs to be quick, easy, and long-lasting and relying on your cold cup of coffee to get you through the day just won’t cut it. Instead, I recommend choosing nutrient-dense whole food meals and snacks rich in protein, healthy fats and complex carbs. This will ensure you get all the energy you need without the blood sugar crash. If you are keen on boosting your milk supply, you can also include galactagogues in your diet, which are foods that help promote milk production (provided you’re chest/breastfeeding). Examples of these would be oats, brewer’s yeast, flax seeds, sesame seeds (or tahini), fenugreek and ginger, some of which you can find in More Granola.

I find More Granola is an easy snack to have on hand and it was especially helpful in those early postpartum days when snacking was necessary between my newborn's constant feeds. I loved creating this Tahini Cocoa Power Bar recipe using the Hot Cocoa More Granola. These bars have become my new favourite way to power up! They are packed with galactagogues, and they’re rich in healthy fats, protein, and anti-inflammatory omega-3s from the tahini and hemp hearts. These bars will easily become your favourite one-handed snack for quick, nutritious, milk-boosting fuel!

Tahini Cocoa Power Bars

Ingredients List

2 cups tahini

1 cup maple syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

¼ tsp Himalayan salt

¼ cup ground flax seeds

3 tsp brewer’s yeast, optional

¼ cup hemp seeds

¼ mini chocolate chips

1 package of Hot Cocoa More Granola

Recipe Steps:

1. Line a 9x9 square pan with parchment paper being sure to leave two sides long so you can lift out the bars. Evenly place More Granola chunks in the pan to create a base. Fill in the gaps with crumbled granola if needed.
2. Whisk the tahini, maple syrup, and vanilla extract In a small pot on low heat until well combined. Fold in the flax seeds and brewer’s yeast.
3. Pour the tahini mixture on the granola chunks, spreading evenly using a spatula. Sprinkle chocolate chips and hemp hearts on top and freeze for 1 hour or until the tahini mixture firms up.
4. Cut the bars into 16 pieces or desired size. Store in the freezer and enjoy within one week.

Megan Horsley is a Toronto-based Holistic Nutritionist, Personal Trainer and Recipe Developer. She is passionate about helping women become stronger, more confident and happier in their bodies and loves to share recipes that combine indulgence with healthy ingredients. Check out Megan Horsley Wellness here!