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Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies: These healthier, delicious chocolate chip cookies are easy to make,and great for school lunches. This post has ideas for making lunches easier, and the perfect cookie to add to lunches.
One of the reasons I love summer is that lunch time is easy because I make something, and we all eat it. The school year is a little trickier. For me it can be so stressful! I want to make sure my kids get something from all the food groups, that we don’t have wasted foods, and that what they get is something they will actually eat, not just throw away or trade once they are in the lunchroom. That is a lot of boxes to check. So today I thought I would share my top 3 tips for easy school lunches, and my favorite treat to make for my kids’ lunches because they love them, and they are a healthier option! Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies!
These cookies are the bomb! They use whole wheat flour, coconut oil, dark chocolate chips, and are seriously delicious. They are one of those treats, that while still an indulgence, you can feel pretty good about. Especially if you are like me and can’t seem to quit after one.
And why would you want to?
There is just something about a chocolate chip cookie that I love. I love to dip it in milk. Eat it hot and warm. Or even a day later. My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe can be found here. But these are a close second, and much better for me and my kids to be eating. They have a subtle coconut flavor that I love.
They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. And even though they are made with whole wheat flour they aren’t too dense.
School Lunch Ideas
Tip One: Have the kids pack their own lunch.
I make sure we have plenty of food on hand that is easy to pack for lunch, and my kids have to pack their own. And they have to eat everything they pack. They get to choose from the options I provide, and have to take accountability for that choice by eating what they take.
I love using Horizon® products like their Kids Aseptic Milk Boxes and the squeeze pouches and sandwich crackers. They are perfect for convenient lunches, and kids love them. The kids aren’t the only ones who love them, They are great for everyone in the family. I have found myself grabbing a box of the milk as I am heading out the door for errands, as it has 8 grams of protein and is a great source of calcium.
Tip Two: Provide variety and “treats” you feel good about.
My kids always want a little bit of everything, rather than a lot of one thing. And kids in general want treats. It is a reality. If I don’t give them a treat, they usually find a way to get one. Often by trading something good for them from their lunches. Knowing this, I provide a treat for my kid’s lunches. I also make sure there is a variety of other options too. Carrot sticks, celery sticks, apple slices, cheese, olives, crackers, fruit pouches, and more.
I would love for everything in my kid’s lunches to be homemade, but that is not our reality. However, I can make a batch of cookies on Sunday, and have those as a treat for the kids all week. In order to please both them and myself, I have made these whole wheat chocolate chip cookies that are seriously yummy and that also have some great ingredients! Like no white flour, no butter, and less than a cup of sugar. You can find the recipe below.
Tip Three: Pack the night before.
Packing lunches in the morning can be hectic for families. Sometimes, that means eating right is the last thing on my mind, I am more worried about homework making it into backpacks, and getting out the door on time than I am what is in their lunch boxes. By packing the night before things are calmer, and I can monitor what is going in the lunches. And with Horizon® products, I can feel confident my kids are getting snacks they will love that I can feel good about.
It also doesn’t hurt to have a cute lunch box, like this one that is Peanuts Movie themed. I love that all the Horizon® products have Peanuts movie packaging right now, as I am super excited to watch the upcoming The Peanuts Movie, which is in theaters on Nov. 6th. Are you planning to take your kids? I am!
Now check out my little movie about how we pack lunches, with lots of good stuff, in bite size, small portions, with lots of variety, and of course, the Horizon® products we love most which are great for lunch, snacks, travel, and on the go eating.
Now let’s get to the recipe for Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies:
Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies + School Lunch Ideas
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 cup old fashioned oats ground into flour using a blender or food processor
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup coconut oil soft but not melted
- 1/2 cup brown sugar packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3/4 cup dark chocolate mini chips
- 1/4 cup toffee pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Using a blender or food processor, blend the cup of oats until they reach a flour like consistency
- In a bowl whisk together the oat flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder.
- In a stand mixer bowl, combine sugars, coconut oil, egg, and vanilla
- Mix with paddle attachment until well combined, then slowly add flour mixture
- When combined, stir in mini chocolate chips and toffee pieces
- Scoop into 1 1/2 Tbs balls, and roll with your hands.
- Place on baking tray 2 inches apart (12 to a tray)
- Bake for 10-12 minutes
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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Pin to your Cookies board on Pinterest:
Jenn @ Peas and Crayons says
LOVE Horizon! Thanks for all the kiddo-friendly lunch ideas Rachael! <3 Pinned!
Shelley @ Two Healthy Kitchens says
I just love everything about this post! Your tips for better school lunches are spot-on, and I’m such a huge fan of all the nutritional upgrades in those yummy chocolate chip cookies (pinning for sure!). Plus – you’ve got so many cute ideas to give the ho-hum, same-old-same-old lunch a little kick-start! Sometimes it just takes a couple of fresh, fun ideas to get those creative juices flowing and make packing lunches seem like an adventure instead of a chore. Thanks for all the great inspiration!
Rachael says
Thank you for the comment, and the pin! We love making lunches fun! And let’s be honest, if my kids can do it themselves, I am so much happier! Hope you have a great day!
Mary Larsen says
Wow what a delicious post this turned out to be! I’m pinning this recipe – and will make it with my little man this weekend. #client