Fun fact, I just had a baby. Well, almost 7 months ago. Leading up to her birth, like many first time moms, the only way to calm my nerves was to prep. So I spent a lot of time in the kitchen. A lot. I made tons of freezer meals, babka bites, muffins, cookies. you name it. I made so much that our stand alone freezer was completely full and I am pretty sure I still have some blueberry muffins in there that we just never got to. One of the items I made in advance, that I actually think were a great item to have waiting in the freezer, were these little energy bites.

I imagined life with a newborn would be crazy and I wouldn’t have time to sit down to eat although I would be constantly starving from all the breastfeeding I was doing. All of that was not totally wrong. It was actually spot on. And these little bites were perfect little energy boosts. What made them extra great? I packed them full of milk boosting ingredients to really get the most bang for the ball (sorry that was horrible).

What also makes these little guys great? They are not just for new moms, no these are the perfect pre or post workout snack, late afternoon snack, 2nd breakfast, 3rd breakfast. You get the point.

I made sure these bites were full of lots of good stuff but also that they tasted good becuase honestly, life with a newborn is hard enough, no need ot make it harder by forcing yourself to eat anything less than delicious. The base of these is peanut butter, but any nut butter will do, a little honey or maple syrup to sweeten, and vanilla to add just a nice rounded flavor panel. Then I included lots of ingredients that are said to have milk boosting properties like oats, flax, chia seeds, and even brewers yeast (I had never even heard of brewers yeast before but alas here we are). Lastly, I had to add in chocolate chips because what kind of monster would make energy bites without chocolate chips??

Lactation Energy Bites

Ingredients

• 1 Cup Rolled Oats
• ½ Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
• ½ Cup Ground Flaxseed Meal (aka ground flaxseed)
• ½ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (Stir or No Stir both work)
• ⅓ Cup Maple Syrup 
• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• Optional: ¼ Cup Cocoa Powder (sifted)
• Optional: ½ Teaspoon Chia Seeds
• Optional: ½ Teaspoon Brewers Yeas

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine all ingredients, mixing with a large spoon (I find a large wooden spoon to be easiest for these). 
2. Using either two spoons or a cookie scoop (my preferred method) scoop out mixture and place on a baking sheet. If each bite isn’t round, now is the time, with clean hands, to roll each ball to make them perfect-ish spheres. 
3. Place baking sheet, with bites, in the freezer. Let hang out until set, at least an hour but have left them for longer, not really an exact science.
4. Once they have set they are ready for eating! I suggest keeping them in the fridge until you are ready to eat them. They should last in an airtight container in the fridge for about a week.*

*As I mentioned earlier these are great to make in advance and freeze. Just make sure to put them in an airtight freezer safe container. They should be ok for at least a month in the freezer. Whenever you are ready to eat them, take them out and let them come to room temp, or put a few in the fridge for the week and just snack on them as needed.

Recipe created for stuytown.com

Photos by Jill Paice: @copperspooncollective

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