Whether you get yours from a coworker, a neighbor, or your own child, Girl Scout cookie time is always an event.
And that event is easier to take part in than ever, thanks to Digital Cookie, the Girl Scouts of America's program that allows some of its tiny salespeople to sell online.
Some of the girls will have personalized cookie-selling websites and they'll invite you via email. Others will still take your order in person but will use a mobile app (which means you can pay via credit card). If you don't have a Girl Scout in your life and want cookies, there's an app for you, too: Search for Girl Scout Cookie Finder on iTunes or Google Play.
"On the platform, girls can set their cookie goals, track their progress, manage orders and inventory, learn Internet safety skills, and more—all while they earn age-specific Cookie Business badges and explore ways to help others by investing their earnings back into their communities," the organization said on its website.
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Of course, though the process of selling the cookies may be healthy for the girls, and buying them may give you some of the benefits of helping others, eating the cookies is another story. If the temptation is too much, you can always donate your cookies to your local troop’s charity of choice.
If you're going to take them home, here’s the lowdown on which of the five most popular flavors are the best healthy choices. (Note: Girl Scout cookies are made by two licensed bakers. Recipes, ingredients, and nutrition profiles may differ slightly.)
Thin Mints
Four of these top-selling cookies have 160 calories and 7 grams fat, which isn’t terrible for a sweet snack. The bad news: Depending on the baker, they may be made with some less-than-desirable ingredients, including vegetable shortening, caramel color, and high fructose corn syrup. But they are vegan, if that’s a consideration for you.
Caramel deLites/Samoas
This coconut-y treat comes in second for sales. With Samoas, two cookies weigh in at 150 calories and 8 grams fat. For Caramel deLites, the same two have 140 calories and 6 grams fat. Caramel deLites have high fructose corn syrup, and Samoas have carrageenan, which has been linked to glucose intolerance and inflammation.
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Peanut Butter Patties/Tagalongs
Love peanut butter? (Us too!) Peanut Butter Patties (also vegan) clock in at 130 calories and 7 grams fat for two, while Tagalongs (not vegan, go figure) have 140 calories and 8 grams fat for two. The former is made with high fructose corn syrup and the latter with hydrogenated palm oil.
Do-si-dos/Peanut Butter Sandwich
And here’s more peanut butter, rounding out the top five most popular Girl Scout cookies. For each of these, three cookies is the serving size. The Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies have 170 calories and 7 grams fat; the Do-si-dos have the same amount of fat but 10 fewer calories. Ingredient-wise, the Do-si-dos have hydrogenated oils, and the Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies have vegetable shortening.
Trefoils/Shortbread
Rounding out the list are these classic cookies. The delicate, sweet Trefoil cookie has 160 calories per serving size of five cookies, 21 grams of total carbohydrates, plus 7 grams of total fat. Shortbreads have 120 calories per serving of four cookies, 19 grams of carbs, plus 4.5 grams of total fat.
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