Regular cookies (they don't need to be chocolate chip) are loaded with sugar and refined white flower.
We can talk about to sugar later. First, let's take a quick delve into the horrifying reality of refined white flower.
Why you should avoid white flour
Whole grain is comprised of 3 pieces. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which happens to be an effective source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidants, and then we have the endosperm (the section that the majority of people haven't heard about!) this is the least valuable section of the grain, and mainly consists of starch. Last of all, at the heart, there is the germ, that contains healthy proteins, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've possibly already guessed, the refining procedure which is used to produce white flower disgards the bran together with the germ and just focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain that has the least nutritional value.
Flour, and therefore cookies (or bread, and a whole range of other things) that is made from the endosperm is incredibly damaging to your health. So why do they make it? Exactly why does refined white flour even exist? Because it lasts for a longer time. And foods that have a longer sell by date generate much more money. (which of course is way more important than our well being, right!?)
Refined white flower can cause a whole multitude of health problems. Including but in no way limited to: fat gain, diabetes, hypertension, tumors, digestive problems, the list goes on and on!
The problem with sugar
Sugar has got such a bad rep already that I don't think I need to beat it down any more. We 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 make the perfect example. They can get their sweetness from healthy alternatives to sugar, including honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, and even chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are also made with whole wheat flower, which still includes all of the healthy parts of the grain, just like nature intended.
I also think that I ought to point out that they actually taste much better too! Wouldn't you think? To me at least, oatmeal cookies are 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 spot behind the pans! Much too good for kids!