Healthy cookie idea's?

[missarb]

My son goes to day care and their number one rule at the center is to pack a healthy lunch and healthy morning and afternoon tea's.
Well I want to make some healthy cookies for him but they are not to have real chocolate or nuts in them. So I just want to know if anyone has any healthy yummy cookie recipe idea's?
It doesnt have to be cookies, if anyone has any other healthy recipes that I can make and put in his lunch box that you could tell me, that will be great.

[WildChild]

I've done a lot of 'alternative' cooking and baking, having had to do several food elmination diets. Believe me some of my experiements have be pretty awful, like the tofo cake with tofu frosting - Not a good idea!

Fruit is always good, dried fruit can be used as is - if he is old enough to handle it an likes it. For fresh fruits, it's good to cut them up - make sure they are really ripe and flavorful, then you won't feel they need to be sweetened. To keep them from turning brown add a 1/4 teaspoon or so of asorbic acid (vit C powder). Here in the US a readily available brand is called 'fruit fresh' and is sold for use in freezing fresh fruits.

'Healthy' is a relative term. Some people think of things made with fructose or honey as healthier than those made with cane sugar but the body treats them all pretty much them same. I never use bleached flour and whenever I can add ground flax seed to cookies, muffins and biscuits - it gives a nutty flavor and added fiber and omega 3s. I posted a couple of my muffin recipes on here a while back I think, They contain no fats or processed sugar. Instead of chocolate chips you can use carob chips.

How about granola?

[sourpuss]

I've done loads of research and tests on this as well. "healthy" never tastes the same. But if it's a little kid I doubt he'll be as discriminating as we are.

You can substitute pureed prunes for some of the butter in a lot of baking. You can also substitute with applesauce. I did make a very tasty oatmeal/applesauce cookie once. I'll try to dig up the recipe.

[ghanie]

Get an oatmeal cookie recipe and blend the oatmeal really well before adding it to the mixture ... they end up looking and having the same texture as shortbread cookies.

I've done it in the past and both children and adults are always surprised when I tell them it's oatmeal. It's nice and crumbly instead of chewy which is always a big hit with the kids.

[WildChild]

A trick with oatmeal - add a 1/4 cup of water (unless the recipe already calls for extra fluid) and then let the dough sit for 15 mins before baking. You will have soft, chewy, flavorful cookies instead of rocks.

[missarb]

Thanks guys for your great idea's I will give them all a go and will let you guys know how I go and if my son liked them lol.