All Food is Nutritious. Yes, Even Cookies.

Not that we need a nutrition-related reason to eat cookies, but what’s in a cookie (or similar dessert), really? 

Flour ➡️Carbohydrates (macronutrient) + B vitamins, magnesium, iron, selenium, manganese, phosphorous (micronutrients) + fiber

Sugar ➡️carbohydrate (macronutrient), minerals (micronutrient)

Butter ➡️Fat (macronutrient), Vitamins A, D, E, K (fat soluble vitamins)

Eggs ➡️protein, fat, Vitamins A, D, E, B vitamins, choline, Iron, phosphorous, selenium

Salt ➡️minerals 

Chocolate ➡️fat (macronutrient), flavonoids (a phytochemical)

Nuts ➡️protein + fat (macronutrients), Vitamin E, minerals, fiber .

Diet culture demonizes tasty, fun foods like cookies as “junk foods,” but really all foods offers nutrition in some form. We need a variety of food types in order to get a balance nutritionally and for our mental well-being.

Here are some common questions/concerns I hear about sweets and other “fun foods:”

Q: Will I gain weight by eating desserts? 
A: No one food, food group or nutrient has the power to change body weight more than another. Body weight is more complex than simply what we eat.


Q: Is it okay to eat dessert every day? Is there a limit on how much dessert I can eat?
A: Restricting dessert will only make it more desirable, which can lead to binging, stress, and guilt. Most people notice that when they make peace with dessert and unclassify it as a forbidden food, they enjoy it more and may even desire it less.

Q: Is eating dessert bad for my health? 
A: There is not one food that can guarantee health or protection of disease. When we let all foods fit, we naturally gravitate toward variety, which allows our bodies to derive adequate nutrition and balance.

I think I’m ready for a cookie now! 🍪

What questions do you have about this topic?