Regular cookies (they don't have to be chocolate chip) are high in sugar and refined white flower.
We are going to talk about to sugar later. First, let's take a quick delve into the scary reality of refined white flower.
White flour is bad for you
Whole grain is made up of 3 pieces. From the outside moving in we have the bran, which happens to be a great source of fibre, B vitamins and anti-oxidants, and then we have the endosperm (the section that a lot of people haven't heard of!) this is the least useful section of the grain, and primarily consists of carbohydrates. And finally, in the centre, there is the germ, consisting of healthy proteins, minerals, fat and more B vitamins.
As you've perhaps already guessed, the refining procedure that is used to make white flower disgards the bran as well as the germ and just focusses on the endosperm. The part of the grain containing the least nutritional value.
Flour, and therefore cookies (and bread, and a variety of other things) which is made from the endosperm is extremely bad for your health. So why do they make it? Why does refined white flour even exist? Because it stays fresh for a longer time. And foods that don't go off so quickly make more profit. (which evidently is far more important than our well being, right!?)
Refined white flower can lead to an entire plethora of illnesses. Including but definitely not limited to: an increase in weight, diabetes, heart problems, tumors, digestion 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 ought to beat it down anymore. We know it's bad for us… but it makes things taste better, so we carry on eating it.
Lots of things taste just as good without sugar too. Oatmeal cookies are a good example. They get their sweetness from healthier alternatives to sugar, for example honey, cinnamon, vanilla extract, raisins, or maybe even chocolate!
Oatmeal cookies are also made with whole wheat flower, which still contains all of the good parts of the grain, exactly as nature intended.
I also think that I need to add that they actually taste much better too! Wouldn't you agree? To me at least, oatmeal cookies are much more indulgent and sophisticated than regular 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!