Toronto baker and mother Lisa Sanguedolce has just launched a tasty and helpful product for breastfeeding mothers. Lisa is the founder of The Lactation Cookie Company, a new line of cookies made with ingredients called “galactagogues” that promote milk supply in mothers who are breastfeeding, like brewer’s yeast, flaxseed and rolled oats. 

This isn’t Lisa’s first venture — she’s also the owner of Le Dolci Bakery in The Junction. After she had her first child in 2018, she decided to use her passion and skill for baking to support other mothers who may be facing challenges with breastfeeding. The Lactation Cookie Company launched in June, and the cookies are available for purchase across Canada.

“Eating certain foods, herbs and spices to support milk supply goes back thousands of years. Today there are options available on-shelves,” said Lactation Consultant Catherine McEvilly Pestl, who worked closely with Lisa to develop the lactation cookie recipe alongside nutritionists and food scientists. We love the cute packaging, and the fact that they come in gluten-free and plant-based vegan varieties!

The company is also giving back in a way that will help empower women who are breastfeeding. With every box of The Lactation Cookie Company cookies purchased, a donation will be made to La Leche League to support breastfeeding education in North America.

We asked Lisa to tell us more about The Lactation Cookie Company.

What was it that made you decide to launch The Lactation Cookie Company?

When I had my son I had challenges with breastfeeding — as so many new moms do. I drove to the U.S. to buy lactation cookies as I was looking for something to help increase my milk supply. As a baker, I knew I had to make my own lactation cookies that would be healthy, tasty and easily available for local Toronto moms. Then we got some attention from the City of Toronto new business development team and it blossomed into something bigger! 

What has been some of the feedback you’ve received so far?

Moms love the cookies! Especially gluten-free and vegan moms who say there’s little selection out there for them (for almost everything edible), which was feedback that stuck with me in the research stage of the cookies’ development. Our cookies come in three varieties – regular, vegan and gluten-free. Everyone adores the graphic design too and we LOVE our graphic designer Jenn so much. I wanted the brand to be cool, like pulling out a Chanel lipstick from your handbag vs a dollar store lipstick, but instead it’s a cool box of cookies from your diaper bag!

Can you tell us about your decision to partner with La Leche League in Canada? 

I loved their book The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding, I read it religiously while breastfeeding. So many moms I looked to for advice and support were either chapter leaders (my friend Kieran) or had attended meetings. Also so many moms told me they were part of local groups from 20-30 years ago so it’s an organization that has stood the test of time. It is a charity and is run by amazing women, all on a volunteer basis, magical in my opinion!

When it comes to breastfeeding, what conversations do we still need to have more of?

BREASTFEEDING IN PUBLIC IS OK, not to be SHAMED OR COMMENTED ON by anyone, period. Omg I can bang on about this for days. The more people see it happening the more of the norm it will be. 

 Have people been buying for themselves, or more as a gift to expectant or new moms?

New mothers have been buying for themselves which is great, as they are so conscious of everything they consume especially as a first-time mom. There have also been many lovely website comments left at check out about it being a gift for a daughter or granddaughter. We love all of the kindness that surrounds a new baby entering this world from the family and village. 

 What do you love most about The Lactation Cookie Company? 

I love that it’s a product that supports women and moms, and is something that people have said, “I wish I had these when I was nursing.” And that we support even more women through education!

The Lactation Cookie Company products can be ordered from Well, thelactationcookiecompany.com, Amazon and soon on Indigo.