Regular cookies (they don't have to be chocolate chip) are loaded with sugar and refined white flower.
We shall get back to sugar later. First, let's have a quick delve into the terrifying truth of refined white flower.
Why is white flour bad for you?
Whole grain is made up of 3 sections. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which is an excellent source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidant, next there is the endosperm (the section that most people haven't heard about!) this is the least nutritional part of the grain, and primarily consists of carbohydrates. Last of all, at the heart, there is the germ, which has protein, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've probably already guessed, the refining method that is used to make white flower throws out the bran as well as the germ and focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain that comes with the lowest nutritional value.
Flour, and therefore cookies (as well as bread, and an assortment of other foods) which is made from the endosperm is extremely hazardous to your health. Why then do they make it? Exactly why does refined white flour even exist? Because it stays fresh for a longer time. And products that keep longer make much more profit. (which evidently is way more important than our well being, right!?)
Refined white flower can cause an entire multitude of diseases. Including but in no way limited to: gaining weight, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, digestive function problems, the list goes on forever!
And now the sugar...
Sugar gets such a bad rep already that I don't think I have to beat it down any more. We know it's bad for us… but it makes stuff taste good, and so we carry on eating it.
Lots of things taste just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are the ideal example. They can get their sweetness from much healthier alternatives to sugar, such as honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or maybe even chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are made utilizing whole wheat flower, which still contains all of the good parts of the grain, exactly as nature intended.
I also feel like I need to point out that they actually taste much better as well! Wouldn't you think? To me at least, oatmeal cookies seem more indulgent and sophisticated than regular cookies… and don't get me started on oatmeal cookies with stem ginger! They always get the top secret hiding spot behind the pans! Much too good for kids!