Healthy Oat Cookies

By Kay MacInnis

 

‘Tis the season for visions of sugar plums – and many other sweets. Which means it’s the season for additional pounds to end up on the hips, if we are not careful.

Studies show that the average American gains one or two pounds this time of year. That means we are taking in 3,500-7,000 additional Calories during the holiday season. Easy to do, right?

The message that dietitians try to drive home this time of the year is: Maintain your weight, rather than focusing on weight loss. So it is fine to enjoy your favorite holiday foods, just don’t do so mindlessly —watch the serving size, and trim Calories where you can.

Here are a few suggestions you might try:

• Use a healthier fat. Replace fat in recipes with olive or canola oil. You might decreasing the fat and using half applesauce or canned pumpkin instead.
• Replace one egg with two egg whites — this is not about the cholesterol as much as the fat from each egg yolk.
• Change the flour – when a recipe calls for white flour, try replacing half with whole wheat.
• Use plain or low-fat Greek yogurt in place of sour cream.
• Choose skim or 1% milk instead of whole milk.
• Try the low-fat (Neufchatel) or low-fat Greek cream cheese in place of your usual cream cheese.

Also, remember that sometimes it is about limiting the portion size of your favorite holiday treat.

Try this recipe. It is a great alternative to other cookie choices! This tasty recipe was submitted by the recent winner of our healthy cookie exchange contest on Facebook. It’s so awesome to see others being committed to making healthier choices during the holiday season!

Healthy Oat Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup oats
• ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 1½ tsp. baking powder
• 1½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 2 tbsps. unsalted butter, melted
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• ½ cup agave nectar
• ¼ cup raisins (I also really like to use currants this time of the year!)

Preparation:

• Whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil or butter, egg, and vanilla.
• Stir in the agave.
• Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated.
• Fold in the raisins.
• Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
• Drop the cookie dough into 15 rounded scoops onto the prepared sheet, and flatten slightly.
• Bake at 325°F for 11-14 minutes.
• Cool on the pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack.

Nutrition Information: 92 Calories, 2.09 grams fat, 17.81 grams carbohydrates, 23.76 grams protein, 10.98 grams sugar, 112 mg. sodium, 0 mg. cholesterol.

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This is another in a weekly series of healthy recipes from Kay MacInnis, registered dietitian at Providence Hospitals in Columbia.

Kay works in Health and Wellness at Providence, helping cardiac and diabetes patients eat their way to healthier lives. She’s not a chef herself, but in consultation with the actual chefs at Providence, she’s learned a lot over the years as she has worked to help patients help themselves after they leave the hospital.

She also conducts a number of health and wellness events for the public, including the monthly Providence Cooks! classes.

 

 

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