Beware of Girl Scout Cookie Season

It’s that time of year again.  Thin mints, Do-si-dos, Samoas to name a few. Those innocent little Girl Scouts are peddling their wares … tempting cookies loaded with fat and sugar. Seeing “Girl Scout Cookies” show up on my clients food logs is always a tell tale sign that GSC season is here.  Just a little reminder that these innocent cookies can pack on the pounds if you aren’t careful! 

A spell seems to come over people during this season like suddenly the calories don’t count because we bought the cookies from an ambitious young girl or because we were donating to a good cause. Do you think your fat cells care? Nope! And I bet many of you have already bought several boxes.  I’m not the Girl Scout cookie Grinch , but … 

 Calories in Girl Scout Cookies (note that some cookies are made in different bakeries hence the slightly different nutritional content)

Samoas/Caramel deLites: 2 cookies = 140/130 cal,  8/6 gm fat, 5/5 gm sat fat, 18/19 gm carbs, 10/12 gm sugar
Trefoils/Shortbread: 5/4 cookies = 160/120 cal,  7/4.5  gm fat, 2.5/2 gm sat fat, 22/19 gm carbs, 7/4 gm sugar   
Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties: 2 cookies = 140/130 cal, 9/7 gm fat, 5/4 gm sat fat, 13/15 gm carbs, 8 gm sugar
Thanks-A-Lot: 2 cookies = 150 cal, 6 gm fat 4.5 gm sat fat, 22 gm carbs, 11 gm sugar
Savannah Smiles: 5 cookies = 140 cal, 5 gm fat, 1.5 g sat fat, 23 gm carbs, 10 gm sugar
Do-si-dos/Peanut Butter Sandwich: 3 cookies = 160 cal, 7/6 gm fat, 2/2.5 gm sat fat, 22/26 gm carbs, 11/8 gm sugar
Lemonades: 2 cookies = 150 cal, 7 gm fat, 4 gm sat fat , 22 gm carbs, 10 gm sugar
Rah-Rah Raisins:  2 cookies = 120 cal, 5 gm fat, 2 gm sat fat, 17 gm carbs, 7 gm sugar
Thin Mints: 4 cookies = 160 cal, 7-8 gm fat,  5 gm sat fat, 22 gm carbs, 10-11 gm sugar
Cranberry Citrus Crisps: 4 cookies = 150 cal, 4 gm fat, 0 gm sat fat, 26 gm carbs, 10 gm sugar
Toffee-tastic: 2 cookies = 140 cal, 7 g fat, 4 gm sat fat, 19 gm carbs, 7 g sugar
Trios (Gluten Free): 3 cookies = 170 cal, 8 gm fat, 3.5 gm sat fat, 20 gm carbs, 11 gm sugar

I posted this video of my friend who LOVES Girl Scout Cookies last year … I couldn’t resist posting it again!

Tips to prevent Girl Scout cookie weight gain
1. Know yourself! If you have a hard time controlling your intake of cookies (like I would), it would be best not to keep them in your environment. The more you eat sugar, the more you crave it

2. If you want to donate to a good cause (the Girl Scouts) buy a box or two and give them away

3. There is nothing wrong with having  a cookie or two for a snack. However, if you plan to do this on a regular basis, you’ll need to make sure you incorporate these calories into your weight loss eating plan. So if you want the cookies, you may need to omit something else (like your glass of wine!)

4. If you NEED to keep the cookies in your home for another family member, at least keep them out of sight. Studies have shown that we eat less if the food is not in view

5. If you feel like you have to buy them, buy one box

6. Remind yourself that all calories count (even if the food is sold by a young  ambitious girl)

7. Wipe this saying out of your head “I’ll burn the calories off tomorrow.” For most people, this doesn’t work!

8. Envision what those processed carbs are doing to your body – raising blood sugar and triglycerides, causing inflammation and weight gain, etc.

9. If you are looking for a treat, order your favorite dessert in a restaurant (or better yet – split one) one night. Tastes better and you’ll get it out of your system. Keeping boxes of cookies in our environment fuels the fire for sweets

Take home message: if you have an issue with sugar or portion control, don’t keep them in your environment!