Regular cookies (they don't need to be chocolate chip) are full of sugar and refined white flower.
We shall talk about to sugar later. First, let's have a quick delve into the alarming world of refined white flower.
White flour is bad for you
Whole grain is made up of 3 sections. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which is certainly an awesome source of fibre, B vitamins and antioxidant, next there is the endosperm (the part a lot of people haven't heard of!) this is the least nutritional part of the grain, and mainly consists of starch. Lastly, at the heart, we have the germ, which incorporates protein, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've perhaps already guessed, the refining method that is used to make white flower chucks out the bran and the germ and just focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain that includes the lowest nutritional value.
Flour, and ultimately cookies (as well as bread, or a variety of other foods) that is made from the endosperm is extremely hazardous to your health. So why do they make it? Exactly why does refined white flour even exist? Because it lasts longer. And foods that keep longer make much more money. (which evidently is significantly more important than our health, right!?)
Refined white flower can lead to an entire multitude of medical conditions. Including but certainly not limited to: an increase in weight, diabetes, coronary disease, tumors, digestive difficulties, the list never ends!
The sugar
Sugar has got such a bad rep already that I don't think I ought to beat it down any more. We all know it's bad for us… but it makes food taste better, and so we carry on eating it.
Plenty of things are just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are a great example. They can get their sweetness from much healthier alternatives to sugar, such as honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or maybe 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 believe that I ought to add that they actually taste much better as well! Wouldn't you think? To me at least, oatmeal cookies are 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 behind the pans! Way too tasty for kids!