How to Reduce Weight Watcher Points in Recipes
Reducing the number of Weight Watchers points in your favorite recipe can be easy. Trying to keep track of calories can be a tedious task, so Weight Watchers devised a point system that most people find easier to use. To keep your points low, look for foods that are high in fiber and low in fat and calories. You can change almost any recipe from a meal you can't tell your team leader about into one you can brag about at your next weigh-in. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Find one of your favorite recipes.
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If the recipe calls for sausage or ground beef, use ground turkey that is 93 percent lean, turkey sausage or turkey bacon instead. If the recipe calls for chicken, use all white meat. If you have to use beef, use ground beef that is 95 percent lean.
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If the recipe calls for a pan to be greased or for ingredients to be fried in a skillet with grease, spray the pan or skillet with nonstick cooking spray instead.
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If eggs are required, substitute three egg whites for one egg, or use an egg substitute such as Egg Beaters.
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When sugar is needed, use Splenda or a similar brand of sugar substitute instead. You can also use a small amount of honey or agave nectar as a substitute for sugar.
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Use skim milk instead of 2 percent milk. If a dessert calls for heavy cream, use fat-free half and half or nonfat evaporated milk.
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Use light or fat-free versions of dairy and other products. Most items such as sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese, canned condensed soup and butter come in reduced-fat or fat-free versions. When all of the ingredients are combined, you probably won't even be able to taste the difference between the heavy version and the light version.
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As always, calculate the points for each ingredient and add them together. Then, divide the total by the number of servings to find out the new point value for your recipe.
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Tips & Warnings
Even when there is not a reduced-fat or fat-free alternative, always compare nutrition labels. One brand might have 150 calories, 6 grams of fat and 2 grams of fiber per serving while another brand might have 120 calories, 4.5 grams of fat and 4 grams of fiber. That is 3 points per serving versus 2 points per serving.
References
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