Regular cookies (they don't need to be chocolate chip) are filled with sugar and refined white flower.
We'll look at to sugar later. First, let's take a quick delve into the alarming reality of refined white flower.
The reason white flour is bad
Whole grain contains three sections. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which is an excellent source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidants, next we have the endosperm (the section that a lot of people haven't heard of!) this is the least valuable part of the grain, and mostly consists of carbs. Last but not least, in the middle, we have the germ, containing protein, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've likely already guessed, the refining procedure which is used to produce white flower chucks out the bran along with the germ and just focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain with the lowest nutritional value.
Flour, and then ultimately cookies (and also bread, and a whole range of other things) that is made from the endosperm is incredibly 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 way more important than our well being, right!?)
Refined white flower can cause an entire host of medical problems. Including but in no way limited to: an increase in weight, diabetes, heart conditions, cancer, digestion problems, the list goes on forever!
The problem with sugar
Sugar has got such a bad rep already that I don't think I ought to beat it down anymore. It is well known it's bad for us… but it makes stuff taste better, which means that we carry on eating it.
A lot of things are just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are a wonderful example. They can get their sweetness from healthy alternatives to sugar, like honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or perhaps chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are made using whole wheat flower, which includes all of the good parts of the grain, just as nature intended.
I also feel I should add that they actually taste better too! Don't you agree? To me at least, oatmeal cookies seem 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 behind the pans! Way too tasty for kids!