The doorbell rang at 11:30 Saturday morning. I had been dreading this moment for weeks. It was the adorable little girl who lives next door delivering our order of Girl Scout cookies. If you have been following my blog for any period of time you probably are aware that I do not often allow sweets to darken my doorstep. Chocolate is like crack to me. If it is in the house, I will not be able to resist. Why, oh why, did I allow myself to order five boxes?
The father of the little Girl Scout next door admitted that he had eaten an entire sleeve of the Thin Mints on Friday evening. At 140 calories per serving (4 itty bitty one-bite cookies), he took in approximately 4 servings, half a box, at a calorie count of 560 calories. I quickly calculated how long it would take me to work off that half box of Thin Mints. For me, it would take over an hour of intense interval training on the elliptical machine. So not worth it!
It really bothers me that in a country where childhood obesity is at epidemic levels an organization like the Girl Scouts raises the majority of their operating funds through the sale of cookies. What kind of message is this sending our children? With an estimated 30% of American children suffering from obesity, maybe it's time for the Scouts to reconsider their fund raising efforts. How about sponsoring a 5K Run or a Dance-a-thon? I'd be happy to sponsor a Girl Scout's effort to raise money through a healthy activity.
What are your thoughts about children being encouraged to sell sweets to raise funds?
It seems to me that the tradition started before the epidemic. When we were a nation with a bit more moderation in our indulgences. Especially our food indulgences.
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time with complete all or nothing because food cannot be completely separated from it's context. Cultural and social. Yes, right now I am abstaining. Yes, I do keep driving when I see those little hopeful girls right now. But, I have hope we're working toward moderation instead of all or nothing.
Totally agree about the Girl Scouts needing a healthier fundraiser - and the Boy Scouts sell those awful popcorn tins also.
ReplyDeleteI have yet to find a girl scout! god damnit i want some cookies!!
ReplyDeletewhen i was one, i swear there was a plethora... now?! nada. zip. zilch.
Oh I can go on and on about how sugar is my crack. LOL!!!!
ReplyDeleteJohn ordered some cookies from a girl at church. I've been dreading the delivery as well which I'm sure will be soon.
I think it's a GREAT cause, but I agree with you, isn't there something else that can be more worthwhile for them to sponsor instead of selling cookies?
They have added 100 cal packs (daisy go rounds - which are really good) to their list. It's been a tradition ever since I was a GS. Anyone remember the kookaburra cookies? Cookies sales are how a lot of the girls get to go to camp (I was never an aggressive cookie pusher so I never got to go to sleep-away camp :(), receive scholarships for college, field trips, etc. The cookies bring in hordes of money for a group that only bugs you once a year, unlike the school kids who come almost every other week with wrapping paper, cookie dough, chocolate, and cheap trinkets that cost a fortune only to break the minute you receive them.
ReplyDeleteI've order 7 boxes (or was that 8), 3 for my fella and the other 4 for me (2 boxes of the 100 cal and 2 of the lemonades). If we can practice restraint (2 cookies of the lemonades = 1 serving), the cookies wont kill ya.
Yes, childhood obesity is on the rise, but it isn't the GS' fault, it's the daily marauders such as Mickey Dees, BK, the crap served in the cafeterias, CCs pizza buffet and the "this portion could feed a family of 4" sized meals served at most chain restaurants.
Ok, I'm off my soapbox. From one former GS to another, please support your local troop.
I couldn't agree with you more.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you going to do with all those cookies? Don't let them get the best of you!
I have never liked it! And I hate it when they camp outside the grocery store trying to sell them also, I feel bad telling them no thankyou. FUnny, this is going to be the topic of tomorrows post for me. My husband brought home6 boxes that he bought from a guy at work. I was going to calculate how much I would have to work out to work off 1 little cookie. And they don't even taste all that spectacular.
ReplyDeleteOne big problem I see with selling these cookies are that a lot of families end up buying 20, 30, 40 boxes themselves just so their daughter can get a certain badge. I'm sure they can revamp the system and come up with a better thing for the girlscouts to sell.
ReplyDeleteoh man! I USE to eat an entire sleeve of the thin mints at a time- straight outta the freezer! uugghhh Ok I gotta stop talking about them...lol
ReplyDeleteYou've just made me hungry for tagalongs!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't think the cookie selling is really that much of an issue. It's the American way of life that's the prime culprit for childhood obesity.
As the former leader of a Brownie troop I can't get behind not supporting Girl Scout troops. What I can get behind is increasing awareness that you can support the troops in other ways. A little known secret about Girl Scouts is that there is a Gift of Sharing option where you can give a financial donation to the troop (100% tax deductible) and the troop receives 100% of the donation, rather than the measely $.50/box they are receiving from cookie sales.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why the GS troops don't advertise this way of support. There are usually forms included with the cookie-selling packet.
I also wish the GS would do as the Boy Scouts do and offer an online option to buy cookies to send to our troops. I didn't buy a single kernel of Boy Scout popcorn, but I was able to send a big ol' barrel of it to our troops.
Another option is buying the cookies but donating them back to the troop for their afternoon snack. Don't want the kids to have the sugar? Donate the cookies to a soup kitchen.
As a former Girl Scout Leader and the one in charge of ALL cookies sales (ordering, money, etc) for our ENTIRE county......for 3 years.....I plead the 5th!
ReplyDeleteI have sworn them off! Thin Mints are a huge weakness and its one i wont give in to this year. I am politely saying "no thank you"
On the bright side, they seem to give you fewer in the boxes.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from SITS to say hello!
http://harrietandfriends.com/
I feel that in our country food is extremely sellable(sp?). I think that if they did a dance-a-thon(love that idea) or a 5k(love that idea too) they wouldn't get as much of a response. Sadly, I don't think there is as much motivation for working out as there is shoveling cookies into ones mouths. So, the girls scouts of america know where the money is at to be made.
ReplyDeleteInteresting question... I never thought about it that way. I always just hated when my kids brought home a huge box of chocolate bars to sell and we ate most ourselves! Thankfully no on came to sell those darn cookies to us this year.
ReplyDeleteBeth-Thanks for the information. I don't recommend not supporting the Scouts. It is a wonderful organization and I was a leader myself when my daughter was younger. I do however think that the selling of cookies may not be the best fund raising option. Health matters aside, the children are only receiving a portion of the sales and I am always opposed to children selling door-to-door. Just my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI stay away from cookies, chocolate and other fundraisers like that. I usually donate some money, but don't take anything in return.
ReplyDeleteIt's the same thing with public schools going "Healthy Schools" and removing all pop and junk food from vending machines yet their fundraisers are cookie dough and cheesecakes.
I am glad to see that my son's school opted out this year and went for the magazine fundraiser.
I've got 18 cases of the stupid things in my house right now. I'm not thrilled about them, but my daughter loves selling them. I do wish the Girl Scouts would focus on healthier fund-raisers. I don't eat them. Anymore. But it's only because I don't eat any processed foods -- I don't have any kind of cravings. Anymore.
ReplyDeletewell, as a current girl scout leader dealing with cookie sales...I would like to say that I agree...because this cookie sale thing is eating my time but I can't.
ReplyDeleteYes, the girls get only fifty cents a box.
Yes, not the healthiest food.
But it's once a year.
Girl scout cookies aren't making anyone fat.
It's how you choose to eat year round that makes the difference.
I have been surrounded by girl scout cookies for over a month now...
total intake.
6 thin mints and 8 samoas.
for over a month and a half.
The girl scouts keep total proceeds.
Some goes to the troop...but the rest goes bacc into the community in the form of helpin needy girls become girl scouts, sending kids who can't afford it to girl scout camp. And you can also contribute cookie to troops and to hometown heroes such as the firefighters or community organizations.
The girl scouts do alot around the community.
They hand out food, visit nursing homes...they learn how to be contributing members of society.
As for cookie sales, no girl is allowed to go door to door without an adult.
Its a rule.
No girl is allowed to sell after 6.
As for saying no at the store.
If you don't want any, just say no.
It is teaching the girls to accept rejection and keep moving forward.
The people saying no have their part as well.
It teaches persistence.
There,
who would have thunk it.
Chris defending the cookie sales.
lol
Have a good day.
LOL. Just the title cracked me up!
ReplyDeleteRegarding childhood obesity and GS cookies, tho. Nope. That's not it. I sold GS cookies--50 years ago. None of my little fellow scouts were fat. None of them. Childhood obesity was not an issue 50 years ago. It's not that once a year cookie sale.
Kids with their bottoms stationed in front of TV, computers and electronic games rather than being outside playing could be a culprit.
So could the dramatic increase in fast food, eating out, ordering in and meals of processed food instead of home-cooked real food.
Chuckle. Although I disagree with your indignation--the title still makes me laugh.
Deb
At least the kids have to WALK to sell the cookies door to door!
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't think there's anything wrong with selling the cookies. It's a good opportunity to teach moderation - have 2 cookies as a treat, not a whole sleeve, you know?
There will always be cookies in life, we just need to learn how to live with them without trying to eat them all in one sitting, lol!
I had to disappoint several Girl Scouts a few weeks ago that showed up as a group.
ReplyDeleteI wonder what the First Lady would say about your thoughts...very interesting insight.
My comment goes along with the idea expressed by "Continuous Changes". I think one reason for the cookies, other than the fact they've been doing it forever, is the fact COOKIES SELL! People love them and don't mind spending money to get them.
ReplyDeleteWhen my son's school switched fundraisers from selling various sweets, candy and other goodies to a Boosterthon Fun Run, they didn't have nearly the support as they did with the previous fundraisers. However, the school decided to raise money again this year with another Boosterthon!!
As much as I love Girl Scout cookies (and boy, do I love them,) I agree that it's not exactly a great model for them to be selling something so unhealthy. The Boy Scouts do popcorn and trailmix, which is a much better option in my opinion. I used to feel bad and cave every time they came around, but now I just shoot them a bright smile and tell them that my neighbor/neice/girl I babysit for has stocked me for life! I feel bad telling a white lie, but I don't think I could ever turn down their shining faces by telling them I don't trust myself around tons of cookies!
ReplyDeleteI know the tradition started long ago, but it seems there should be a better way of raising money - especially with the obesity epidemic among children.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy them anymore, but will just give the little girl a donation.
Honestly, it makes my head spin. I would much rather donate to the Girl Scouts directly then buy a box of cookies. My dad came up with some creative ideas for fundraisers when I was growing up. My favorite one was when we raised money by performing at nursing and retirement homes. We got people to pledge a certain amount of money per facility. I enjoyed meeting the old folks and they really seemed excited to have a bunch of young people around.
ReplyDeleteOooooo, don't get me started...
ReplyDeleteSkipping over the "why's," my husband and I now donate money to the organization (school/band/scouts/etc) so they get 100% of the funds.
(and to answer your question about Diane/Dr. Oz...I don't know when there will be a repeat. I wonder if it's on youtube. Maybe Diane knows.)
I can't ever buy them, b/c it is way too hard for me not to sit down and eat the whole box of them! I feel bad, but I always decline their offers (and I teach at an elementary school, so I get quite a few of them!).
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dr.+oz+100&search_type=&aq=f
ReplyDeleteI typed in Dr. Oz 110 on youtube. There's a few entries there.
I don't think we need to get caught up in the politics of Girl Scout cookies...although if they didn't sell them, I'd prob lost 5 lbs. instantly. Ah ha ha
ReplyDeleteI know girl scout cookies are bad, but I don't mind buying them, because of the nature of the organization. Same with boy scouts, even though they sell popcorn!
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on this issue. The least the could do would be to make some healthier cookies, maybe with flax or oatmeal? Or even some whole wheat cookies with fruit filling? At the same time, however, I think it's worse what kids are selling through their schools! YOu should see some of the crap my brother has tried to sell me for school fundraisers and band fun raisers. Much worse than Girl Scout cookies (if you can imagine..).
ReplyDeleteI dread this time of year because Nick's nieces always sell cookies and we always feel obligated to buy a couple boxes. I end up using them in homemade frozen yogurt.
Hey, come pick up an award from my blog!
ReplyDelete