Regular cookies (they don't need to be chocolate chip) are packed with sugar and refined white flower.
We'll get back to sugar later. First, let's have a quick delve into the alarming world of refined white flower.
Why is white flour bad for you?
Whole grain contains three parts. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which is a fantastic source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidants, then there is the endosperm (the part that many people haven't heard about!) this is the least beneficial part of the grain, and mostly consists of starch. Finally, at the heart, we have the germ, consisting of protein, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've perhaps already guessed, the refining system 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 containing the very least nutritional value.
Flour, and then therefore cookies (and also bread, and any number of foods) that is made from the endosperm is extremely bad for your health. Exactly why do they make it? Exactly why does refined white flour even exist? Because it stays fresh for a longer time. And foods that don't go off so quickly generate more profit. (which evidently is far more important than our health, right!?)
Refined white flower can lead to a whole plethora of illnesses. Including but certainly not limited to: fat gain, diabetes, heart conditions, tumors, digestive problems, the list never ends!
And the sugar....
Sugar seems to have such a bad rep already that I don't think I need to beat it down anymore. It is well known it's bad for us… but it makes things taste better, so we carry on eating it.
A lot of things taste just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are a great example. They can get their sweetness from more healthy alternatives to sugar, for example honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or maybe chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are made with whole wheat flower, which still includes all of the healthy parts of the grain, exactly as nature intended.
I also think that I need to add that they actually taste better as well! Wouldn't you agree? To me at least, oatmeal cookies seem far more indulgent and sophisticated than regular cookies… and don't get me started on oatmeal cookies with stem ginger! They always get the secret hiding place at the back of the pans! Way too good for kids!