Rise-and-Shine Cookies

For many, big family breakfasts go hand-in-hand with the holidays. Maintaining healthy eating habits during this season can seem impossible, but fortunately there are a multitude of recipes that offer dishes that are not only healthy, but festive and tasty, too.

Lynne Schatzlein, RD, a dietitian affiliated with Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center, recommends baking these delicious breakfast cookies, courtesy of the American Heart Association, for a sweet alternative to the most important meal of the day. Low-fat and full of fiber, Schatzlein suggests giving the cookies an extra boost by adding raisins, dried cranberries or walnuts. Curb cravings by finishing your morning meal with a cup of green tea or skim milk and half a cup of fresh fruit.

Rise-and-Shine Cookies

  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
  • Egg substitute (enough to equal one egg)
  • 3 tablespoons canola or corn oil
  • 1 1/4 cups quick-cooking or regular rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup wheat germ

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a small bowl, stir together flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine brown sugar, egg substitute and oil. Stir until well combined. Stir in flour mixture, oats, and wheat germ. Drop dough by tablespoons about 1 inch apart on a baking sheet. Flatten slightly to a 2-inch diameter with your hand or the bottom of a glass. Bake 10 minutes or until light brown. Cool on wire racks. Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for one week or in the freezer for several weeks.

Yields 30 cookies.

Recipe provided courtesy of the American Heart Association.

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For More Information
To learn more about Sharp's nutrition services or to find a Sharp-affiliated physician, search for San Diego doctors or call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), Monday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. To find general information about nutrition, read the Nutrition News archive.