Regular cookies (they don't need to be chocolate chip) are full of sugar and refined white flower.
We'll get back to sugar later. First, let's have a quick delve into the horrifying truth of refined white flower.
Why is white flour bad for you?
Whole grain consists of three parts. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which happens to be an awesome source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidants, next we have the endosperm (the section a lot of people haven't heard of!) this is the least useful section of the grain, and mainly consists of carbohydrates. Last of all, in the centre, we have the germ, which incorporates healthy proteins, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've likely already guessed, the refining system which is used to produce white flower does away with the bran along with the germ and focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain that comes with the very least nutritional value.
Flour, and ultimately cookies (or bread, or a variety of other foods) that is made from the endosperm is incredibly bad for your health. Why then do they make it? Why does refined white flour even exist? Because it lasts for a longer time. And products that keep longer make more money. (which evidently is way more important than our well being, right!?)
Refined white flower can cause a whole multitude of health issues. Including but certainly not limited to: gaining of weight, diabetes, coronary disease, tumors, digestive complications, the list goes on and on!
Now for the sugar
Sugar has got such a bad rep already that I don't think I have to beat it down anymore. Everybody knows it's bad for us… but it makes stuff taste better, hence we keep eating it.
Lots of things taste just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are the ideal example. They are able to get their sweetness from much healthier alternatives to sugar, such as honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or perhaps chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are made utilizing whole wheat flower, which still contains all of the healthy parts of the grain, just like nature intended.
I also think that I should say that they actually taste better as well! Don't you think? 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 spot at the back of the pans! Way too tasty for kids!