Regular cookies (they don't need to be chocolate chip) are brimming with sugar and refined white flower.
We will get back to sugar later. First, let's have a quick delve into the scary truth of refined white flower.
Why you need to avoid white flour
Whole grain contains three pieces. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which is an awesome source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidants, after that we have the endosperm (the part many people haven't heard about!) this is the least nutritional part of the grain, and mainly consists of starches. Last but not the least, at the heart, we have the germ, containing healthy proteins, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've possibly already guessed, the refining process that is used to make white flower chucks out the bran as well as the germ and focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain that comes with the least nutritional value.
Flour, and then ultimately cookies (and also bread, or any number of things) that is made from the endosperm is very damaging to your health. Why then do they make it? Why does refined white flour even exist? Because it stays fresh longer. And foods that keep fresh longer make a lot more profit. (which evidently is far more important than our well being, right!?)
Refined white flower can lead to an entire plethora of health risks. Including but definitely not limited to: excess fat, diabetes, coronary disease, cancer, digestion complications, the list never ends!
The problem with sugar
Sugar gets such a bad rep already that I don't think I have to beat it down any more. Everyone knows it's bad for us… but it makes stuff taste good, so we carry on eating it.
Plenty of things taste just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are a wonderful example. They get their sweetness from healthy alternatives to sugar, like honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or even chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are made with whole wheat flower, which still contains all of the healthy parts of the grain, exactly as nature intended.
I also feel like I should add that they actually taste better too! Don't you agree? To me at least, oatmeal cookies seem 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 at the back of the pans! Much too tasty for kids!