Regular cookies (they don't have to be chocolate chip) are full of sugar and refined white flower.
We are going to talk about to sugar later. First, let's take a quick delve into the terrifying reality of refined white flower.
Why white flour is bad
Whole grain consists of three parts. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which is certainly an excellent source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidant, and then we have the endosperm (the section a lot of people haven't heard about!) this is the least valuable section of the grain, and primarily consists of starches. Finally, in the middle, there is the germ, which has proteins, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've likely already guessed, the refining system used to make white flower chucks out the bran together with the germ and just focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain where there is the lowest nutritional value.
Flour, and therefore cookies (and bread, or an assortment of other foods) that is made from the endosperm is very hazardous to your health. So why do they make it? Exactly why does refined white flour even exist? Because it lasts longer. And products that keep fresh longer make much more money. (which of course is way more important than our health, right!?)
Refined white flower can cause an entire plethora of ailments. Including but definitely not limited to: excess weight, diabetes, heart conditions, cancers, digestion problems, the list never ends!
Now for the sugar
Sugar gets such a bad rep already that I don't think I need to beat it down any more. It is well known it's bad for us… but it makes things taste good, therefore we keep eating it.
Lots of things taste just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are a good example. They are able to get their sweetness from more healthy alternatives to sugar, for instance honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or perhaps chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are also made utilizing whole wheat flower, which includes all of the good parts of the grain, exactly like nature intended.
I also think that I should add that they actually taste better too! Wouldn't you think? To me at least, oatmeal cookies seem more indulgent and sophisticated than normal cookies… and don't get me started on oatmeal cookies with stem ginger! They always get the secret hiding place behind the pans! Far too tasty for kids!