Moroccan Sellou Granola Bar

For 5 out of the last 9 weeks I have been trying to comfort a colicky baby with severe acid reflux. I never had to deal with this with my other babies, so I’ve felt at such a loss this time around. I felt like a first-time mom all over again, calling the nurses panicking because my baby wouldn’t sleep or stop crying. Trying everything under the sun to get her to stop crying.

When I finally tried changing my diet in combination with the right medication, she calmed down and seemed to be better. She wasn’t in constant intestinal pain like she was and we actually saw some smiles from her! This was the most wonderful thing in the world.

But Baby A still has troubles down low. She still cries sometimes after eating, and she still spits up from time to time. I have decided to increase measures to find her more peace through diet changes.

The old school thinking is that you need milk to make milk. This is not true. It’s actually the calcium that a woman needs to produce good milk for breastfeeding. Did you know that there are so many other sources for calcium than milk? These choices include, but are not limited to, green leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, fortified orange juice and tofu, almonds, sardines and salmon.

I have been busy adding omega-3-rich walnuts to my meals like granola bites, oatmeal and salads, which also include leafy greens and spinach. I have never been a salad person but the addition of walnuts and those crunchy tortilla strips make for a yummy concoction.

Benefits of Nuts and Seeds in Breastfeeding

So almonds. Almonds are huge in Moroccan cooking. My MIL lives with us about half the year and she has taught me many dishes for health and energy. These Sellou bars are so easy and really really healthy! Packed with good fats, they are a great breakfast on the run, a hearty snack or workout food.

Here are the ingredients and what they do for you:

Almonds – Calcium, folic acid, magnesium, vitamin E
Sesame Seeds – Diabetes, high blood pressure, gingivitis, cancer
Flaxseed – Omega-3 essential fatty acids, lignans, and fiber
Cinnamon – Effective natural remedy for eliminating headaches and migraine relief, and can also help stablize blood sugar (which is great for weight loss)
Aniseed – The seeds have also been used to reduce flatulence, cure sleeplessness, aid nursing mothers with the production of milk and to stimulate appetite. Aniseed can also improve digestion, alleviate cramps and reduce nausea

4 1/2 cups of almonds peeled and roasted
4 1/2 cups sesame roasted
2 1/4 cups of roasted flour
1/2 cup of powdered sugar
1/2 cup flaxseed
1-2 tablespoons of cinnamon
1-2 tablespoons of aniseed, ground
1 1/2 cups honey
3/4 cup oil

Take a big  bowl of sesame seeds and one big bowl of almonds and set aside until the end

Ground all the other ingredient in the mixer put them in a big container or bowl, and add the rest of sesame and just a little bit of the whole almonds that you set aside so it will give a good texture. At the end you start adding the honey and the oil. 

These bars are displayed on the fabulous handcrafted Moroccan pottery of LeBazaar.com.