What are some of the best foods you can eat on Weight Watchers? You’ll be surprised! In addition to smart choices like water, fruits, and vegetables, there are plenty of other options that will keep you satisfied and help you stay healthy while losing weight. Here are seven foods that you may have never thought to include in your diet while on Weight Watchers
A Note About Nutritional Labels
Before you start shopping for WW meals, it's a good idea to familiarize yourself with nutritional labels. The following label is for Weight Watchers Smart Ones Pesto Pasta. It has 230 calories, 14 grams of fat, 300 mg of sodium and 7 Points+. This means that you can eat 1/2 cup of pasta and still be within your daily Point budget (for a Slim One). It also means that if you have more than half a cup of pasta you will exceed your daily Points. If you follow Weight Watchers, it is probably helpful to get in the habit of reading food labels so that when someone asks you how many Points something is worth, you know how to quickly estimate whether or not it fits into your plan. Weight Watchers recently added a new feature called SmartPoints, which allows you to enter foods that are not pre-scored into their system.
Processed Foods
When you're trying to lose weight with Weight Watchers, it's very important to keep a close eye on your intake of processed foods. Processed foods are high in sodium and trans fats, which both add up to significant weight gain over time. Plus, many processed foods don't have much nutritional value and can actually make it more difficult for you to lose weight in other ways; for example, products like low-fat peanut butter cups or fat-free chips make it easy to eat huge quantities of calories without feeling satisfied. To lose weight safely but quickly while following Weight Watchers, cut back on your consumption of these sorts of fake foods—and instead focus your efforts on nutrient-rich real food that will fill you up and keep you satisfied between meals. This means loading up on healthy produce, lean proteins (from fish and chicken especially), whole grains (like quinoa) as well as healthy fats like olive oil and almonds. And remember: Weight Watchers lets you enjoy sweets too!
Natural Foods
While Weight Watchers may not be as famous for its food program as it is for its points system, there are a lot of great healthy foods you can eat to lose weight. A huge variety of fresh produce and lean meats makes eating healthily easy, while baked goods and other convenience items add flexibility to your weight loss diet. Add some healthier options to your weekly grocery list with these Weight Watchers-approved foods. Even if you don't use Weight Watchers or their point system, these healthy choices make dieting a little easier. If you have any questions about Weight Watchers or any of our weight loss articles, please contact us. The main thing to remember about weight watchers is that though it works for many people, if something doesn’t work for you, switch!
Fruits and Vegetables
Although Weight Watchers is perhaps best known for its Points system, it's actually a diet plan that incorporates free foods into daily meal plans. These foods don't count toward your Points allowance; rather, they can be consumed freely. This means fruits and vegetables are among some of your favorite options when following Weight Watchers. In fact, Weight Watchers encourages consuming a wide variety of fruits and veggies to prevent boredom and to ensure you're consuming enough nutrients (the nutrient variety will depend on your specific weight-loss goal). A few servings of produce every day is what Weight Watchers recommends—and there are plenty of delicious ways to accomplish it! Try adding grapes, berries or stone fruit to your oatmeal in the morning, enjoy an apple with lunch or snack on carrots while watching TV in between meals.
Lean Proteins
While many popular weight-loss plans preach cutting out carbohydrates or fats, it’s important to focus on eating lean proteins to help maintain muscle mass and reduce hunger. Proteins found in seafood, dairy, beans and chicken are often staples of a good weight-loss diet—along with healthy carbs like whole grains and fruits. (And weight loss programs, along with ultra low-calorie prepackaged meals). A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that diets including higher protein levels help improve satiety, which can keep you feeling fuller longer. Aim for about 25 grams (or one scoop) per day for women and about 35 grams (or two scoops) for men.
Condiments, Sweeteners, and Added Sugar
First, cut out added sugar (i.e., any sweetener that isn’t naturally occurring). That means no additional sugar in your coffee, cookies, cakes, or ice cream. If you must have something sweet, use stevia or another natural alternative to sugar and look for no-calorie and low-sugar options when possible. Second, cut back on dressings and condiments—they’re often loaded with extra sugar! If you make your own salad dressing from scratch using olive oil and vinegar (and skip store-bought creamy dressings), you could save up to 75 calories a serving—over 1000 calories a week! Remember, weight loss is all about calories in versus calories out—cut down your calorie intake to lose weight quickly.
Sample Weight Watchers Meal
Chickpeas are a source of healthy fat and fiber that help make you feel full. When it comes to Weight Watchers, portion control is key. For a satisfying snack, try roasted chickpeas: Toss 1 cup of chickpeas with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread evenly over a baking sheet and roast in a preheated 350-degree oven for 15 minutes or until crispy. It’s easy to track! Each 1/2 cup serving equals 3 PointsPlus® values. Add chopped celery or carrots as an extra side dish to double your fill-factor. That way you’ll have a bit more room to add points elsewhere. Tip: Most dieters eat fewer than 20 grams of net carbs per day, so be sure to read labels before purchasing beans. They can be a hidden carb trap if you don't pay attention - some people get very sick from those kind of numbers... no fun when weight loss plans depend on them!!!
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