Health Food or Junk Food: The Complete Cookie


A bodybuilder friend told me about “healthy,” vegan cookies by Lenny & Larry.
 
My sweet tooth said, “I have to try them.”  I soon found The Complete Cookie at my corner drugstore. There were only two flavors available in store and each individual cookie cost $1.99.
 
But, online Lenny & Larry sell 11 flavors: snickerdoodle, chocolate chip, birthday cake, coconut chocolate chip, double chocolate peanut butter swirl, double chocolate, peanut butter, white chocolate macadamia, lemon poppy seed, oatmeal raisin, and pumpkin spice.
 
These cookies are vegan and Kosher. They’re made without high fructose corn syrup, soy, artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, and partially hydrogenated oils. They must be healthy, right?
 
Well, no. These are healthier cookies, but they’re still junk food...

What makes them healthier than most?
 
Half a cookie provides 8 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.  Whether I make cookies at home or buy them at a store, they don’t usually have that much protein and fiber.
 
Additionally, there’s no partially hydrogenated oils to contribute trans fats. And, because it’s vegan, it naturally doesn’t contain any cholesterol. They even contain a little bit of flax, which provide important omega-3 fatty acids.

So, why are they still junk food? 
 
The main reason is because they contain a lot of added sugar. Half a large cookie contains 15 grams of sugar. Some recommend eating only 25 grams of added sugar per day. So, if you eat that whole cookie, you’ve already exceeded your limit for the day.
 
It’s not natural sugar from fruit, vegetables, or dairy.  That sugar comes from cane sugar and molasses. (If you want a cookie that gets its sweetness from fruit, you can make drop cookies with this recipe.)
Whoa. That's a big cookie.
Another complaint I have is that they are made with refined flour.
 
You’d think a cookie with 4 grams of fiber would be made with whole grain flour or whole oats. Nope. These are made with enriched flour, which doesn’t have the fiber that whole grain flour does. So, Lenny and Larry added oat fiber and chicory root fiber to the cookies for more fiber.
 
To be clear, I’m not complaining that there’s fiber in these. I think it’s great there’s fiber in these cookies, unlike most cookies on the market. But, I think they could have been made with whole grains.

Moderation: A cookie is two servings; eat half if you can.
Summary: It’s a cookie.
Like most cookies, it contains a lot of added sugar, which we should all be trying to limit. But, if you’re going to eat a store-bought cookie, this might be one of the better ones, because it provides protein and fiber without trans fats or cholesterol.  If you’re interested in replacing your current cookies with these, you can use discount code BA67521 to get 20% off your order at www.lennylarry.com. Just remember, eat them in moderation.
 
Healthier Option: If you’re looking for a snack that provides protein and fiber, try an apple with peanut butter or cheese on whole grain crackers.

Have you tried these or other protein-packed desserts? Share your thoughts on them. 

Disclaimer: I was not paid to review this product nor did I receive a free cookie to try. 


Disclaimer

The information provided in this blog is not intended to replace individualized medical advice provided by your own doctor, dietitian, or other healthcare professional.
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