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Oatmeal Banana Breakfast Cookies

For a delicious alkaline-based breakfast that can help ease your heartburn, try these delicious oatmeal cookies for GERD.



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Oatmeal banana breakfast cookies recipe


At the beginning of my pregnancy, I began reading about all of the physical changes that I may experience to try and prepare myself. As I learned about different symptoms- diabetes, hemorrhoids, high blood pressure- I assumed that if I didn’t already have a history of these things I most likely wouldn’t have to deal with them during my pregnancy. Oh, how wrong I was. If you are or have been pregnant before, I’m probably preaching to the choir when I say that there is often no rhyme or reason to your physical symptoms during pregnancy. It's the wild wild west for nine months, where anything goes and you are just along for the ride.


GERD, or heartburn is unfortunately one of those symptoms, and it affects more than half of all pregnant women, especially during the third trimester. Several different things contribute to this:

  • Changes in hormone levels can affect how your body tolerates different foods

  • Hormone changes can also cause your esophageal sphincter to relax, allowing stomach acid to flow into the esophagus

  • The increase in the size of your uterus can cause it to scrunch your stomach, pushing stomach acid up into your esophagus


After one night of burping and stomach churning and feeling like my throat was on fire, I went on a desperate search to figure out how to keep it from happening again. Here were my two main takeaways:


  1. Of course, the foods to avoid are the ones you’re probably craving… pizza, Mexican, anything fried. Acidic foods like citrus and tomatoes are also big no-nos

  2. Adding alkaline foods into your diet is a great way to combat the acidity in your stomach

I was pretty sure my breakfasts were a key contributor to my heartburn. I was dowsing my eggs in hot sauce and eating clementines like crazy. So I decided to replace these with some alkaline foods and see if that helped. Nuts, bananas, and unsweetened yogurt were at the top of the list, so I got to work putting together a recipe that incorporated this trifecta into an easy heartburn-friendly breakfast, and ended up with some GERD oatmeal cookies that are pretty delicious!


These oatmeal banana breakfast cookies not only contain several alkaline ingredients to help with heartburn, but they are also a great source of protein and whole grains to keep you going until lunch.


oatmeal banana breakfast cookies


What Ingredients do I need for oatmeal banana breakfast cookies?

  • Oats- make sure they are quick cooking

  • All purpose flour

  • White sugar

  • Brown sugar

  • Salt

  • Cinnamon

  • Baking soda

  • Walnuts- these are optional, but add a good crunch

  • Plain Greek yogurt- make sure it's unsweetened

  • Bananas- ripe bananas provide the best flavor

  • Vanilla extract

  • Eggs



Helpful products for making this recipe:




Which ingredients in these cookies are alkaline?

  • Bananas

  • Walnuts

  • Unsweetened yogurt


What if I don't have Greek yogurt?


You can replace half or all of the yogurt with unsweetened applesauce (which is also an alkaline food) or unsalted butter.



Can I prep these ahead of time?


Yes! Simply shape your cookies, place on a cookie sheet, cover well with saran wrap, and freeze. Let them thaw in the fridge several hours before baking, and then bake as directed.


How can I ripen bananas quickly?


Poke your bananas all over with a fork, set them on a microwave-safe plate, and cook on high for 30-second increments until they are soft enough to mash.



What are some other foods that can help prevent heartburn?


  • Green vegetables such as broccoli and green beans

  • Nuts and seeds

  • Melons

  • Cauliflower

  • Celery

  • Cucumber

  • Ginger


oatmeal banana breakfast cookies recipe


Did You Make This Recipe?

Let me know! Mention @preggokitchen or tag #preggokitchen


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Ingredients:

  • 2 ½ cups quick-cooking oats

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

  • ½ cup white sugar

  • ½ cup brown sugar

  • ½ tsp salt

  • ½ tsp cinnamon

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • ½ cup walnuts, roughly chopped

  • ½ cup plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt

  • 3 ripe bananas

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 large egg


Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees

  2. Whisk together the oats, flour, white sugar, salt, cinnamon, and baking soda in a medium bowl

  3. In a separate bowl, mash the bananas until there are no (or just a few) chunks

  4. Add the brown sugar, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, and egg to the bananas and stir to combine

  5. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry until everything is combined

  6. Roughly chop the walnuts and stir into the dough

  7. Take 3 Tbsp of dough at a time, form into balls (the dough will be sticky) and place on a lightly greased baking sheet (or line the baking sheet with parchment paper)

  8. Lightly press the cookies to form a flat top. Repeat on a second baking sheet if needed

  9. Bake for 20 minutes

  10. Let them cool for a few minutes on a cooling rack before serving





Sources:

  1. Gupta, E. (2022, March 28). Gerd diet: Foods that help with acid reflux (heartburn). GERD Diet: Foods That Help with Acid Reflux (Heartburn) | Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/gerd-diet-foods-that-help-with-acid-reflux-heartburn

  2. Pregnancy and heartburn: Causes & management. Cleveland Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12011-heartburn-during-pregnancy




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