Regular cookies (they don't have to be chocolate chip) are high in sugar and refined white flower.
We shall talk about to sugar later. First, let's have a quick delve into the frightening reality of refined white flower.
Why is white flour bad for you?
Whole grain is comprised of 3 parts. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which is certainly a great source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidant, and then there is the endosperm (the section that a lot of people haven't heard about!) this is the least beneficial section of the grain, and mainly consists of carbohydrates. Last but not least, in the center, there is the germ, which has proteins, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've perhaps already guessed, the refining method used to make white flower does away with the bran along with the germ and just focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain containing the very least nutritional value.
Flour, and ultimately cookies (and bread, and a whole range of other foods) that is made from the endosperm is very harmful to your health. Exactly why do they make it? Exactly why does refined white flour even exist? Because it keeps longer. And foods that keep fresh longer make a lot more profit. (which evidently is way more important than our health, right!?)
Refined white flower can cause an entire plethora of medical problems. Including but certainly not limited to: gaining weight, diabetes, heart conditions, tumors, digestive problems, the list goes on forever!
The problem with sugar
Sugar gets such a bad rep already that I don't think I ought to beat it down anymore. We know it's bad for us… but it makes things taste good, which means we keep eating it.
Plenty of things are just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are a fantastic example. They are able to get their sweetness from much healthier alternatives to sugar, for instance honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or perhaps chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are made utilizing whole wheat flower, which includes all of the healthy parts of the grain, exactly like nature intended.
I also feel like I should say that they actually taste much better as well! Wouldn't you think? To me at least, oatmeal cookies seem far 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 place at the back of the pans! Much too good for kids!