Feel a Little Better Chocolate Chip Cookies

I pack my oldest son's lunch everyday because he's a picky eater and won't eat school food.  My younger son eats school lunch a few times a week depending on what's being served, so I pack his lunch on Fajita Rice Bowl and Pizza Dipper days.  

For a lunch treat I was buying organic cookies.  I've also tried WhoNu?, the cookies that look and taste exactly like Oreos and Chips Ahoy, but claim to be "nutrition-rich" compared to other leading brands and are made without high-fructose corn syrup.  I've been growing a little weary of them because they are, after all, still processed, packaged cookies even if they are as nutrient dense as they claim to be.  This prompted me to start baking my own cookies to pack in their lunches so I can feel a little better about their treat situation. 

I altered the standard Toll House cookie recipe by cutting down on the sugar, replacing half of the white flour with rolled oats, adding ground flax and chia seeds, ground ginger and orange zest.  They are delicious. Both my boys love them - especially the super, ultra, mega picky one.  And, yes, they are still full of butter and chocolate chips - so who wouldn't love them, right?  

Lately I've been loving these chocolate chips, not only because of the beautiful red packaging but because they are 63% cocao

I keep the cookies in the freezer and pack them frozen so they have all morning to leisurely defrost.  Also, by keeping them in the freezer, there is a slightly less chance that I will eat them on a regular basis.  I hope you like!

Feel a Little Better Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 & 1/3 cups of unbleached, all purpose flour

1 & 1/2 cups of old-fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup ground golden flax seeds

2 Tablespoons chia seeds

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 2 large eggs

zest of one orange

1 12 oz package dark chocolate chips

chopped walnuts (optional)

1.)  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2.)  Combine flour, oats, flax, chia, baking soda, salt and ground ginger in small bowl.

3.)  Beat butter, sugars, vanilla and orange zest in a large bowl until creamy.

4.)  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5.)  Gradually beat in flour mixture.

6.) Stir in chocolate chips (and nuts if using)

7.)  Form dough into teaspoon size balls and bake on a parchment lined baking sheet for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely.  Cookies freeze well.  Enjoy!

"The Greatest Wealth is Health" - Roman Poet Virgil

"Let Food be thy Medicine and Medicine be thy Food." - Hippocrates