For those of you out there who’ve ever had a baby — you know the hunger you experience postpartum is REAL.

But so is the struggle in figuring out what to eat. Especially when you’re sleep deprived, nursing 24/7 and living in perpetual brain fog for the first few days weeks. Ain’t NOBODY got any extra time to be spending in the kitchen.

But the postpartum phase is also such a crucial time to supply your body and brain with the nutrients it needs to heal, not to mention produce plenty of breast milk.

And if you’re able to figure out a few easy ways to take care of both, they will take care of you, and you’ll feel more like yourself. Now I don’t about you, but when I feel better physically and mentally, I feel empowered to be a more patient, kind, generous and loving person to everyone around me, especially my baby girl.

Enter in these No-Bake Postpartum Monster Cookie Dough Balls. Not only are they super easy to make and work brilliantly as a quick snack or meal in between all those newborn feeds, but they’re made up of key nutrients to help balance your hormones and boost your milk supply. Basically, they’ll help you to feel good, so you can fully enjoy this super special time in your life.

How, exactly? Let’s quickly break down the science behind how the ingredients work to balance hormones postpartum.

***Even if you’re not postpartum, you can still enjoy these cookie dough balls as a satiating snack or tasty treat that will keep blood sugar + hormones stabilized (case in point, my husband, toddler and I all enjoy them regularly!)

POSTPARTUM HORMONE-BALANCING INGREDIENTS 

+ Oats 

Oats are rich in iron, which many women are depleted in due to the loss of blood when giving birth. Maternal anemia (i.e. low iron levels) can decrease your milk supply, so this is an excellent food to add to your diet, if you can tolerate grains well. They also contain other trace minerals like manganese, selenium and copper which support the thyroid gland (low-thyroid function is also common post birth).

+ Peanut Butter

Nut butters are rich in healthy fats, and hormones are produced from fat and cholesterol, which means consumption of adequate amounts of the right kinds of dietary fat is crucial for achieving great hormonal health (i.e. you can’t create something without the necessary building materials).

They also provide you with a slow-burning source of energy and provide satiation to keep you fuller longer. For this recipe, I like to use MaraNatha’s Creamy Organic Peanut Butter, as peanuts are rich in zinc, an essential trace mineral required for lactation.

+ Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are high in fiber that support colon detoxification. Constipation is a common side effect during and post-pregnancy, which can cause buildup of toxins and excess estrogen to be circulated back into the blood stream. Estrogen dominance can cause many unwanted symptoms, such as mood swings, insomnia, irritability, depression, brain fog, fatigue, headaches, etc. so it’s important to balance out levels through supporting optimal digestion and elimination.

They’re also rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which have a ton of anti-inflammatory effects and are a crucial component of mental clarity and brain health.

+ Collagen

Collagen is a protein rich in amino acids (arginine, glutamine, glycine and proline) that help us produce healthy levels of hormones. These hormones support healthy thyroid function (critical postpartum) and work to offset any cortisol (stress hormone) imbalances. 

Collagen can also help heal gut issues (such as intestinal permeability) and is extremely liver supportive, helping your liver to process toxins and xenoestrogens that can lead to hormone imbalances, specifically in the form of estrogen dominance.

My favorite collagen brand is Bulletproof, which is not only flavorless and odorless (making it super seamless to add to recipes, drinks, etc.) and is sourced from pasture-raised cows without any added hormones.

+ Dark Chocolate

Dark chocolate is not only delicious, but rich in magnesium, a mineral required for over 300 enzyme reactions in the body (including sleep, muscle cramping, headaches, digestion and blood sugar). Magnesium is a building block of your “happy hormone” serotonin, which is crucial for calming the brain and promoting relaxation. Ensuring you get enough magnesium in your diet postpartum can help with preeclampsia, cramping, insomnia, mood swings and headaches.

So there you have it, a few of the many reasons why these No-Bake Monster Cookie Dough Balls need to be in your life post-baby.

And if you’re not pregnant, giving birth, or ever plan on being pregnant have no fear, you don’t have to be to enjoy this snack. They’re delicious and healthy enough for anyone to enjoy, including my hubby, who’s snuck MORE than his fair share ;).

Happy NO-baking,

xx //

Lauren

**PS — Looking for more hormone balance support postpartum? Be sure to check out my 28-Day Hormone Balance Reset Plan, with delicious recipes + lifestyle tips to help heal your body and transition to a healthy cycle. 

No-Bake Postpartum Monster Cookie Dough Balls (GF/DF)

DF

GF

VG

These easy + delicious no-bake monster cookie dough balls will work to satiate hunger, boost milk production + heal hormones postpartum.

PREP TIME:	TOTAL TIME:
00:00 Mins	01:00 Hours

• Author: Lauren Chambers

• Servings: 12-16

• Recipe Type: snack, dessert, treat

• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

• 1½ cups organic creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup GF oat flour (either blend oats in a dry blender to make or buy the flour pre-made)
• ⅔ cup GF rolled or sprouted oats (I like Bob’s Red Mill)
• ½ cup maple syrup
• ¼ cup (about 2-4 servings)Bulletproof collagen **Use code SOGREEN10 to save 10%
• ¼ cup ground flaxseed
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp sea salt
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips
• flaky sea salt for topping
• Optional: ½ cup clean-ingredient dark chocolate coated candies (using 2-3 to top each cookie, you can leave off if you like but they add a lot of flair)
• Additionally, you may need 1-2 tbsp melted coconut oil if batter is too dry/crumbly

Instructions

1. Stir together the dry ingredients in a large bowl (oats, oat flour, flaxseed, sea salt + collagen).
2. In a smaller bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, peanut butter + vanilla extract until smooth.
3. Pour the wet ingredients in with the dry and stir until well-mixed. The batter should be dry enough that it doesn’t stick to your hands, and wet enough not to crumble. If too dry, add in 1-2 tbsp melted coconut oil. If too wet, add in 1-2 tbsp more oat flour.
4. Stir in dark chocolate chips.
5. Use an ice cream scoop or your hands and either scoop or roll into large balls (or whatever size you prefer).
6. If adding coated candies, press 2-3 into the tops of each balls, then sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
7. Store in freezer for at least 30 minutes before eating, or 1-2 hours in the fridge.
8. Will last well in the fridge for 7-10 days and the freezer for 2 months.

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