Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

I've been MIA from this blog for several months for a few reasons. Summer with 5 kids got in the way, and I've started on a personal journey to better health. I wasn't so sure where a blog about food fit into all of that, but I decided that I would change the focus of this blog just a little bit and it could still work.

I recently read 2 books: Suicide by Sugar, and The Sugar Addicts Total Recovery Program. I highly recommend both of them! They have really changed the way I think about things. I've also started to delve into the world of "clean" eating. Mostly all that means is that I'm trying not to eat processed foods, sugar, or white flour.

Now, this weekend is a tough holiday for those of us who enjoy our sugar but are trying to bid it a fond farewell! So here is my plan: I made a batch of healthy oatmeal cookies and that is my Halloween treat! These cookies are surprisingly good and they contain no butter, white sugar, or white flour. You can actually feel good after you eat one! If you're looking for decadent bakery cookies, these are not them. But if you're wanting a treat that's a little better for you, these are perfect!

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixer, add the applesauce, sugar, and honey, and mix well. Add the egg, vanilla, and olive oil and mix again. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, rolled oats and cinnamon. Mix until moist. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop by tablespoon onto baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. I used a spatula to flatten them when they were at the 6 minute mark. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.