What Makes The Do-Si-Do The Least Nutritious Girl Scout Cookie?

The holiday season is full of joy and family. The summer season is a breath of fresh air after a long winter. But one season that people don't often recognize as being one of the best? Girl Scout Cookie season.

The season usually begins in January and runs through April, though seasons can vary depending on location and troop, according to the official Girl Scouts website. It's the time of year when friends, neighbors, and co-workers come out of the woodwork to offer up cookies to everyone they know. And, of course, pretty much everyone will order at least one box.

There are a few iconic Girl Scout cookie types that have remained popular for decades (albeit maybe a name change), but there are also new flavors that are frequently introduced. But what's the nutritional content of each Girl Scout cookie — and which one is the worst for your health?

Girl Scout cookies go as far back as 1917, when the first troop in Muskogee, Oklahoma started selling them to raise money, per the Girl Scouts website. The cookies took off in the 1950s, and by the 1970s, Do-si-dos were added to the mix. Though they remain one of the longest-running cookies, they are also the unhealthiest Girl Scout cookies available.

According to the Girl Scouts website, one serving of Do-si-dos is two cookies. That serving is equal to 160 calories and seven grams of fat, which isn't so unusual for a cookie. But there are 22 grams of sugar per serving, including 10 grams of added sugars. Consuming too much sugar on a regular basis can lead to an increased heart disease risk, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

With that said, cookies — including Do-si-dos — are still perfectly fine to eat in moderation.

If you're considering which cookie to buy based on nutrition facts, it might be best to skip the Girl Scout S'mores, too — they're not far behind the Do-si-dos. There are 150 calories in two cookies, along with seven grams of fat, three grams of which is saturated fat, or about 18% the daily recommended value. 

The U.K.'s National Health Service notes that too much saturated fat can raise LDL cholesterol levels, which can lead to heart disease. So it's important to limit the saturated fat we consume.

Aside from calories and fat, two Girl Scout S'mores cookies have 21 grams of carbs, including 10 grams of added sugar. And while that sugar content is certainly better than, say, a can of Coca-Cola, it's important to recognize that this is only for two cookies. Opening a fresh box of Girl Scout cookies makes it hard to have just two — and four cookies mean doubling every nutrient level.