This Chennai homebaker's 'lactation cookies' are legen-dairy!

Made with galactagogues or milk boosting ingredients, these are a modern twist on traditional remedies like methi ladoos, from back in the day
This Chennai homebaker's 'lactation cookies' are legen-dairy!

You might be hearing about ‘lactation cookies’ for the first time — especially if you aren‘t a mother. But the term has actually been floating around for a few years now. Although, finding a mom from Chennai who makes them and has takers everywhere from Kotturpuram to Kodaikanal is certainly a first. 

Usha Seetharam who you might recognise from her stint as a VJ on television over a decade ago, tells us, “Lactation cookies basically help mothers make more milk.” And she smartly puts the definition straight in the name of her Instagram account dedicated to the product Make More Milk Cookies which she started earlier this year. 

<em>Usha Seetharam</em>
Usha Seetharam



The 39-year-old who has since her days in front of the camera moved on to becoming a mother of two kids alongside a career in corporate relations has been baking under the brand Ushabakeistan since 2012. But it wasn’t until she tweaked recipes and found one that provided results during her own two pregnancies that she decided to launch this segment. 

To clarify, these cookies do not contain any breast milk — if you were to come to that assumption because of their name. And yes, they taste delicious...

But first, here is what makes them effective — galactagogues. That tongue twister is a fancy word for milk boosting ingredients. Usha tells us that the primary one is brewer‘s yeast, while the others include, flaxseed, rolled oats and fenugreek. And to make this snack even more healthy, her version “uses no refined ingredients or sugars and are gluten-free.” We did enjoy a generous chunk of artisanal dark chocolate in our first bite though, which definitely make them an easy swap for dessert. 

This is possibly why one of the most common questions Usha gets is a panicked: ‘My husband just ate three. What should we do?’ To which she usually responds, with a laugh, “There are no side effects, don’t worry about it! Anyone can eat these, including your kids.”

A jar of eight cookies is priced at INR 400. Orders on request. Available across India (courier
charges apply).

sonali@newindianexpress.com | @brightasunshine
 
 

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