Watch Out for Girl Scout Cookie Season

It’s Girl Scout cookie season. Thin mints, Do-si-dos, Samoas to name a few. Who can resist these tasty cookies? 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 sending out warning bells now!

So I’m not the Girl Scout cookie Grinch. But I see this every spring … my clients buy multiple boxes of cookies (“my husband bought them”) and they get eaten up within a few weeks. This can easily cause a pound or two of weight gain (real fat … not water). So this season, try a different approach – don’t do it! Ask yourself – are they really THAT good? I think you can find treats that are a lot tastier. Look at the labels … not so healthy either. Pretty much all processed carbs. You can find much healthier treats out there.

For a little entertainment, check out my interview with a Alba – big fan of Girl Scout cookies. She tells her “Girl Scout cookie” weight gain story

Calories in Girl Scout cookies
Samoas: 2 cookies = 140 cal, 7 gm fat, 6 gm sat fat, 19 gm carbs
Trefoils: 5 cookies = 160 cal, 8 gm fat, 2.5 gm sat fat and 22 gm carbs
Tagalongs: 2 cookies = 140 cal, 9 gm fat, 5 gm sat fat, 13 gm carbs
Do-si-dos: 2 cookies = 110 cal, 5 gm fat,2 gm sat fat, 10 gm carbs
Lemon Chalet Cremes: 3 cookies = 170 cal, 7 gm fat, 20 gm carbs
Thin Mints: 4 cookies = 160 cal, 7 gm fat, 5 gm sat fat, 22 gm carbs
Cranberry Citrus Crisps: 4 cookies = 150 cal, 4 gm fat, 0 gm sat fat, 26 gm carbs

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!

Do any of you have problems with Girl Scout cookies?