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For many of us, the year actually has five seasons: spring, summer, fall, winter--and Girl Scout cookie. But if you’re living with diabetes, trying to stick to New Year’s resolutions, or just looking to reduce your sugar intake, the arrival of those brightly colored boxes in the office break room can be an unwelcome temptation.
The good news is that like any sweet treat, Girl Scout cookies can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet. These five Girl Scout cookie flavors with the lowest amounts of sugar on the order sheet are your best bet when you do indulge.
Note: Nationwide, Girl Scout councils work with two different bakers to produce cookies. As a result, many flavors are marketed under different names, or the same flavor may have slight variations in ingredients and nutritional value depending on where they were baked. Check your local availability or confirm nutritional information at the Girls Scouts website.
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1Shortbread / Trefoils(R)
Serving size: 4 / 5 cookies
Calories per serving: 120 / 160
Total Carbohydrate: 19g / 21g (7% / 8% daily value)
Total Sugars: 6g / 7g, including 5g / 6g added sugars (10% / 12% daily value)These classic, buttery cookies satisfy your sweet tooth with less sugar than other varieties (though total carbohydrates are higher than some). Either the Shortbread or Trefoil(R) option also have a high number of cookies per serving, so you can feel like you’re splurging more than you are.
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2Toffee-tastic(R)
Serving size: 2 cookies
Calories per serving: 140
Total Carbohydrate: 13g (7% daily value)
Total Sugars: 7g, including 7g added sugars (14% daily value)Keeping total sugars to 7g, the Toffee-tastic(R) also has a lower total carbohydrate count (13g) than most flavors. A gluten-free variety of this crunchy, caramelly cookie is available in some markets for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
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3Lemon-Ups(R)
Serving size: 2 cookies
Calories per serving: 140
Total Carbohydrate: 20g (7% daily value)
Total Sugars: 7g, including 7g added sugars (14% daily value)This new variety, available in select markets, offers a lower-sugar recipe than its citrusy cousin, Lemonades(R), which have 9g total sugars, including 9g added sugars (18% of daily value). Enjoy these with a hot cup of tea for a sweet, satisfying afternoon snack.
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4Tagalongs(R) / PB Patties(R)
Serving size: 2 cookies
Calories per serving: 140 / 130
Total Carbohydrate: 13g / 15g (5% daily value for both)
Total Sugars: 8g in both, including 7g / 8g added sugars (14% / 16% daily value)Both the Tagalong(R) and Peanut Butter Patties(R) varieties of peanut butter cookies with a chocolaty (not chocolate) coating keep both sugars and total carbohydrate relatively low compared to other flavors. Even better: The peanut butter adds a pop of protein, up to three times what you find in other varieties.
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5Peanut Butter Sandwich
Serving size: 3 cookies
Calories per serving: 170
Total Carbohydrate: 21g (8% daily value for both)
Total Sugars: 8g in both, including 8g added sugars (16% daily value)This other option for peanut butter lovers has higher total carbohydrates (21g) than Tagalongs(R) or Peanut Butter Patties(R), but total sugars are about the same as either of those varieties. (Note: If your market sells the Do-si-dos(R) version of this cookie, total sugars go up to 11g.) You can also count 3g of protein in your three-cookie serving, which you can pair with skim milk or almond milk for a lower-sugar thirst quencher. We’ll dunk to that!
