Regular cookies (they don't have to be chocolate chip) are high in sugar and refined white flower.
We will talk about to sugar later. First, let's take a quick delve into the horrifying world of refined white flower.
The reason white flour is bad
Whole grain is comprised of three parts. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which is certainly an awesome source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidants, then there is the endosperm (the part many people haven't heard of!) this is the least nutritional section of the grain, and mostly consists of carbs. Last of all, in the center, we have the germ, which includes proteins, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've probably already guessed, the refining procedure which is used to produce white flower does away with the bran as well as the germ and focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain which has the least nutritional value.
Flour, and therefore cookies (and also bread, and an assortment of other things) which is made from the endosperm is extremely harmful to your health. Why do they make it? Exactly why does refined white flour even exist? Because it stays fresh longer. And foods that have a longer sell by date make a lot more money. (which evidently is far more important than our well being, right!?)
Refined white flower can cause a whole multitude of illnesses. Including but definitely not limited to: gaining weight, diabetes, heart disease, cancers, digestive complications, the list goes on and on!
And now the sugar...
Sugar has got such a bad rep already that I don't think I ought to beat it down anymore. Everybody knows it's bad for us… but it makes things taste better, which means that we carry on eating it.
Lots of things taste just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are a fantastic example. They can get their sweetness from healthier alternatives to sugar, including honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or even chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are also made using whole wheat flower, which still includes all of the good parts of the grain, exactly as nature intended.
I also feel that I should add that they actually taste much better too! Don't you agree? To me at least, oatmeal cookies are a lot more indulgent and sophisticated than normal cookies… and don't get me started on oatmeal cookies with stem ginger! They always get the top secret hiding place at the back of the pans! Far too tasty for kids!