A healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe.

2 cups white whole wheat flour
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup applesauce
2/3 cup white sugar
2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 egg
1 egg white
8 oz dark chocolate chips, such as Nestle 53% or 62% cacao

-Preheat oven to 375. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
-Stir together flour, wheat germ and baking soda in a medium bowl. Set aside. Cream together butter, apple sauce and sugars until well blended. Beat in vanilla, egg and egg white. Beat in flour mixture until it forms a soft dough. Stir in chocolate chips.
-Drop rounded teaspoons onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 7-10 minutes, alternating cookie sheets halfway through (place top cookie sheet on bottom rack of oven and bottom cookie sheet on top rack), until lightly browned around the edges.
-Makes 36 cookies.
Per cookie: 82 calories, 4 g fat, 13 mg cholesterol, 73 mg sodium, 11 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 1 g protein, 2% Vitamin A, 0% Vitamin C, 1% calcium, 3% iron

So what makes this a healthy chocolate chip cookie recipe?

For starters, this chocolate chip cookie recipe uses ingredients like applesauce and egg white to trim the fat content of these cookies. Next, I use white whole wheat flour to boost the fiber content. And finally, I use dark chocolate chips — which not only provide a richer flavor, allowing me to use less sugar, but they are also high in antioxidants.

It’s never too early to introduce your child to the wonders of the kitchen. Even if it’s little things like setting the table, it’s a beginning. Trying new recipes and baking techniques can be fun for the whole family.