Nutrition For Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Lightly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice or cloves, oatmeal raisin cookies are a traditional cookie jar favorite that pairs nutty, flaky oats with plump, juice raisins. The 2001 edition of "Betty Crocker's Cookbook" claims that variations of the oatmeal raisin cookie date back to the 1800s. They are still enjoyed with meals and snacks today.

Serving Size

"Betty Crocker's Cookbook" says that a standard 2-inch oatmeal raisin cookie contains 120 calories per serving. Larger, super-size cookies as well as smaller, bite-sized variants are also available, as are cookies that feature frosting, nuts, fruit filling or yogurt drizzles. For specific details, always review the nutrition information for the product you select.

Carbohydrate

A standard oatmeal raisin cookie contains 50 percent of calories in the form of carbohydrate. About half of these are sugars, the remainder is dietary fiber and other complex carbohydrates. MayoClinic.com endorses oatmeal as one of its "top five foods" for lowering cholesterol based on its fiber content. However, an oatmeal raisin cookie contains a scant 1 g of fiber, some of which comes from the raisins. To obtain the health benefits of oatmeal by eating oatmeal cookies, you would have to consume five to 10 cookies per day.

Protein

A standard oatmeal raisin cookie contains about 8 percent of calories in the form of protein, equivalent to about 2 g. This protein comes from the eggs or egg whites used in the cookie batter, as well as the oatmeal and flour that form its base. By comparison, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that you obtain 10 percent to 15 percent of your daily calories from protein.

Fat

A standard oatmeal cookie contains 46 percent of calories in the form of fat, including 1 g of saturated fat and 10 mg of cholesterol. Typically, butter or margarine supply the fat in homemade or bakery oatmeal cookies. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are a cheaper, shelf-stable alternative popular among mass-produced varieties. All three are the types of fat that the Dietary Guidelines for Americans encourage you to avoid. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans also suggest you limit total fat intake to 20 percent to 35 percent of daily calories, and saturated fat intake to 10 percent of daily calories.

Considerations

If you use diet exchanges, oatmeal raisin cookies count as 1 starch and 1 fat. Among cookies, this makes them comparable to chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, fig or date bars and butter spritz. For a sweet, healthy alternative to oatmeal raisin cookies, consider fresh, canned or dried fruit or fruit-sweetened low-fat or fat-free yogurt. To obtain the cholesterol-lowering benefits of oatmeal, enjoy oatmeal cereal. A 1 cup serving contains 4 g of fiber and just 2.5 g of fat, less than half the amount in a cookie, and none of it is saturated.