Mindful Cookie Crunching

It’s that time of year again — Girl Scout Cookie season, which has been part of our culture for more than 80 years. With so many nostalgic and nearly-addictive cookies in the line-up, it’s hard not to overindulge. It helps that they go oh-so-well with a cup of coffee or tea and support a great cause. If ever there was a good reason to eat a cookie, I’d say this is it.

While they taste so good, these kinds of indulgences can also jeopardize our best-laid healthy eating plans. A dietian at WebMD offers her perspective on Surviving Girl Scout Cookie Season, which includes a nutritional analysis of each cookie and a few tips for conscientious ways to eat them. “Believe it or not,” she says, “two or three cookies will go a long way if you really savor every bite.” I think we all know that she’s right. You can also do things like “reset” your palette between bites and be more conscientious about tuning into your sensory environment. For example, you could eat a crispy cookie then a soft cookie to maximize the taste in your mouth.

Better yet, making your own thin mints may be the most satisfying trick of them all, especially with this recipe at 101 Cookbooks, which contains only natural ingredients.

Do you have tips on how to mindfully indulge in sweets, or is that a contradiction in terms? I think it’s probably no mistake that the cookies fit so well in the freezer, perfect for slow savoring.