Healthy Cookie Recipe! (Seriously)

Cookies. We all love 'em. Whether you're a child or an adult, cookies are a part of everyone's diet as a tasty snack or dessert. Unfortunately, they're not the healthiest. In today's society especially, we hear warning after warning of the skyrocketing statistics regarding diabetes, heart disease, and other cardiovascular ailments afflicting younger and younger populations. Everyday in the news, we hear more about our kids with conditions like Type II Diabetes - something that only older adults used to get. Being constantly bombarded by this depressing news can take the fun out of eating delectable treats like cookies. It's sad, really. Now every time we reach for them, many of us (moreso adults than kids) may find ourselves swamped with cautionary voices in our head alarming us of the high sugar/fat/carbohydrate content that could eventually lead to our doom.

Thankfully, I have a tasty, easy cookie recipe that uses no sugar, flour, or butter!
Before I give you the recipe, though, I must share with you how much more important this recipe is than a diabetes preventive. For all those parents and guardians out there, cooking and baking with your children can be a great family bonding time. Baking cookies, for example, can be a fun activity where children can participate in some delicious hands-on learning. They can acquire many skills that can be transferred to other areas of learning. For example, by following a recipe, kids can learn how to read and follow directions correctly. Mathematics can be learned by measuring out all the ingredients. Furthermore, by baking with a family member, kids can partition the work accordingly and learn how to work as a team. Best of all, it's a great way for families to interact and share fun moments - something that always contributes positively to everyone's emotional well-being. :)

Now, for the recipe!

Ingredients:

- 3 ripened bananas (They must be ripe as they are softer & sweeter :) )
- 3 cups cooking oats
- 1/3 cup non-sweetened applesauce
- 1/4 cup raisins (I know not everyone likes raisins so you can substitute this with other dried fruit, nuts, or semi-sweetened chocolate chips)
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
(Makes ~22)

Steps:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Peel & mash the bananas to a pulp. With a food processor, grind down 1 cup of the oats until they are the consistency of flour. Add that & the rest of the ingredients to the bananas & mix well with a spoon.

3. Use a large spoon & drop the batter on a parchment lined pan. Gently press the top of each cookie to flatten them a little.

4. Bake the cookies for 10 minutes. Remove & cool on racks.

Enjoy!



References:

http://www.bodyrock.tv/2011/06/20/banana-oatmeal-cookies-recipe/