A healthy diet doesn’t mean you have to stop living. For those who have been diagnosed with cancer, changing your eating habits doesn’t mean you have to give up the things you love. While we recommend reaching for healthier snacks like celery and apples, we firmly believe in pampering yourself, even if it is with something simple like dessert. Who says because you have cancer you have to give up cookies?
The important part of indulging is doing it wisely. Desserts are often every dieter’s Achilles’ heel, and once they see the dessert tray their inner child breaks free and looks to grab everything covered in chocolate. Substitutions are your best friend when looking to improve your eating habits while still enjoying the things you love. These simple substitutions can make a world of difference when it comes to your health.
Chocolate chip cookies are the universal comfort dessert of most Americans. They are a symbol of our youth with
their moist delicious flavor that hits us right in the heart. The smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies can turn a house into a home in a matter of minutes and take us back to our childhood.
Take a second to relax and enjoy the simpler things in life with a glass of milk in your hand. You deserve the best of both worlds, a healthier lifestyle with a few choice desserts to treat yourself with. Eating well is hard work, and treating yourself makes it all the more better. We’ve included a recipe for some amazing chocolate chip cookies that are guaranteed to make you feel better about choosing a healthier and nutritious way of living. Just don’t forget to keep showing your fruits and veggies a little love and get your recommended servings daily.
Chocolate chip cookies:
Serves: 24
Prep time: 15 minutes or less
Cook time: 45 minutes or less including cooling
Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
3 Tbsp. butter or margarine
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 large egg
3 Tbsp. water
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup "white" whole-wheat flour (see note)
1/3 cup toasted wheat germ
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray baking sheet with nonstick spray. In medium bowl, cream sugars with butter or margarine. Stir in vanilla, egg and water. Sift together flours, toasted wheat germ, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture. Stir in mini chocolate chips. Drop dough by heaping teaspoonfuls onto baking sheet and flatten slightly with fork. Bake 10-12 minutes. Allow cookies to cool for a few minutes on baking sheet before removing to cool completely on wire racks.
Note: "White" whole wheat flour has a milder flavor than regular whole wheat flour. It is available in most supermarkets and whole food markets.
Per cookie: 73 calories, 3 g total fat (1 g saturated fat), 12 g carbohydrates, 2 g protein, 1 g dietary fiber, 68 mg sodium.