Who loves pumpkin bread? But who wants all that sugar you see in most pumpkin bread recipes? This healthy pumpkin lactation bread is not only gluten free and dairy free, but also lower in sugar so that you can pump up your milk supply and still indulge in your favorite Fall snack even while on a breastfeeding diet.
Looking for breastfeeding recipes that will help you increase milk supply? These healthy pumpkin lactation recipes are made just for nursing moms.
Pumpkin bread is a classic Fall treat that many of us look forward to year after year. But when breastfeeding, it’s important to be mindful of what you eat because you are feeding baby too.
Following some simple breastfeeding diet tips can be helpful for making sure you are producing an adequate supply, eliminating foods that can irritate your baby, and preparing your body for losing weight postpartum.
The good thing is you can take classic recipes and make them healthier AND breastfeeding friendly. All you need to do is take out the not-so good stuff and substitute it for real food, healthy ingredients.
And if you are looking for a classic version, this pumpkin bread recipe is my favorite!
Make sure to pin this recipe for later!
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Pumpkin Lactation Bread vs Starbuck’s Pumpkin Bread
Did you know that Starbuck’s pumpkin bread has 39 g of sugar and 15 g of fat?
This healthy lactation pumpkin bread recipe uses coconut sugar instead of refined sugar for sweetness. So there are only 15 g of sugar per slice. That’s way less than a traditional pumpkin bread recipe.
The fat in this recipe is also cut to 13 g with those being all healthy fats. This recipe uses coconut oil, while Starbucks uses “Soybean And Or Canola Oil”.
To make this recipe healthier and breastfeeding friendly, we’ve taken the regular flour and used gluten free flour and substituted dairy products with non dairy versions.
So instead of using milk, you use coconut milk.
And instead of butter or oil, you use coconut oil.
So what makes this a lactation recipe?
This recipe includes many foods that increase milk supply known as galactagogues. Here are the galactagogues used:
- pumpkin
- oatmeal
- shredded coconut
- coconut milk
- coconut oil
Eating a breastfeeding diet that includes a variety of galactagogues can make it easier for you to make breast milk.
Want a done for you breastfeeding diet plan? Check out this FREE breastfeeding meal plan.
Pumpkin for Breastfeeding Mothers
Pumpkin is an excellent food for breastfeeding moms. It is a food that boosts milk supply and is loaded with healthy vitamins and minerals including:
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Iron
- Folate
- Vitamin E
- Beta-carotene
It is also high in fiber which can help you feel full longer, relieve constipation and help with weight loss.
Lactation Pumpkin Bread – Tips for this Recipe
This healthy pumpkin lactation bread is pretty easy to make. It only takes one bowl and a few minutes to pop into the oven.
The hardest part is waiting the 50 minutes for it to bake! But it so worth it for the amazing pumpkin spice smells that fill the air while baking.
Many lactation recipes include brewer’s yeast, this one does not. If you have it on hand and find it helps your milk supply, you can add 1-2 tbsp of brewer’s yeast for an added boost.
Make sure to wait a few minutes after mixing your dry and wet ingredients in order to let your batter come together. I find with gluten free flour and oats that it helps everything soak up if you give it 5 minutes before putting in the pan.
Try using parchment paper to line your pan. You don’t need to spray and the bread comes out perfectly with very little sticking to the sides.
You can add any mix ins and toppings to this pumpkin bread you like, or just leave it plain. My favorite toppings for pumpkin bread are:
- shredded unsweetened coconut
- oats
- chocolate chips
- pumpkin seeds
- dried cranberries
- chopped nuts
After putting on the shredded coconut at the end, make sure to press it down so the coconut bakes into the top layer of the bread.
Pumpkin Lactation Bread
A healthy version of pumpkin bread for breastfeeding moms that is gluten free, dairy free and includes foods to boost milk supply.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Gluten free flour
- 1 cup oatmeal
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar
- 2 tbsp ground flax meal
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- 1/2 tbsp pumpkin spice
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 can of pumpkin
- 2 eggs
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 raisins
- 1/4 cup coconut flakes (unsweetened)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Add gluten free flour, oatmeal, flax, sugar, salt, pumpkin spice and baking powder to large bowl and stir to combine.
- Add I can of pumpkin to the bowl and mix.
- Mix in the eggs, coconut oil and coconut milk and stir well until combined.
- Add raisins and any other mix ins that you'd like. Fold in remaining ingredients.
- Let sit for 2-5 minutes for batter to come together.
- Line a loaf pan (9 x 5 x 2-1/2 inches) with parchment paper, or grease the pan with coconut oil or cooking spray.
- Pour batter into loaf pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle top with coconut flakes. Press down flakes gently with a spatula to get them into the batter.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 45-55 minutes
- Test with a tooth pick to determine if done. Tooth pick should come out clean, if not add 5 more minutes.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool before slicing. Enjoy!
Notes
You can substitute 2 tbsp of ground flax for the eggs to make this recipe vegan.
Allow to cool completely to make it easier to slice.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 321Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 357mgCarbohydrates: 45gFiber: 2gSugar: 15gProtein: 6g
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More Breastfeeding Resources
Here at Birth Eat Love our goal is to make healthy eating easier for busy Moms during postpartum and breastfeeding.
Homemade breastfeeding snack recipes – this ebook has some great recipes that are low in sugar and dairy free for boosting milk supply.
Wondering what foods you can eat that will help increase your milk supply? This post has 11 real foods that you can eat today to make more milk and includes recipes, supplements and product suggestions.
Do you have a colicky or super fussy breastfed baby? There are some foods you may be eating that could be making your baby uncomfortable. Read about a few foods to avoid while breastfeeding here.
Looking for breastfeeding recipes that can help support your milk production? Here are 9 breastfeeding soups that you can make in the slow cooker or instant pot.
Interested in making freezer meals so you can have easy dinners? Check out this freezer meal ebook that has 12 recipes specifically designed to support breastfeeding and postpartum recovery.
Tired of trying to decide what to eat while breastfeeding? Reduce the thinking and stressing about meal time with this simple breastfeeding meal plan.
Trying to find a way to cope with the summer heat? Look no further with These refreshing iced teas