Weight Watchers was conceived by housewife Jean Nidetch in the 1960s after she herself lost 72 pounds, according to the Biography Channel. Weight Watchers is a nationwide program with locations around the world, which adheres to a points system in order to provide a simpler way to count calories in the foods you eat. There are some foods that are touted as having "0 points" according to the Weight Watchers plan, although this does not necessarily mean the foods contain zero calories.
Vegetables
Some vegetables contain no points, according to the Weight Watchers diet, but a point value of zero does not necessarily mean you can eat as much of the food as you want without worrying about adding calories to your diet. For example, Weight Watchers makes a zero-point vegetable soup. Although the calories in the soup are negligible, two servings of this soup equals one point. Other vegetables containing zero points include single servings of cabbage, carrots, tomato, artichokes, mushrooms, cauliflower, celery, squash, uncooked onion, spinach, turnips, radishes, chicory, cucumber, lettuce, arugula, green beans, chard and zucchini. A single serving of these vegetables is considered one cup, according to Weight Watchers.
Fruits
Some fruits are touted as having zero points on the Weight Watchers diet, but like the vegetables on this list, these foods contain small amounts of calories that will build up if more than one serving is eaten. Zero-point fruits on the Weight Watchers list include one medium kiwi, one cup of bitter melon, one maraschino cherry, one small orange, one small peach and three passion fruits.
Salsa
Salsa, provided it is homemade according to the Weight Watchers recipe, contains zero points per 1/2-cup serving. This recipe (available on the Weight Watchers website) contains 1 cup raspberries, 5 medium-sized nectarines, 2 tablespoons jalapeno pepper, 1 cup scallions, 1 medium bell pepper, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar and 2 teaspoons maple syrup. This salsa can be eaten with celery or carrots to provide the best weight loss benefits.
Fat-Free Italian Dressing
One serving of Italian dressing, provided it is fat-free and low calorie, is considered zero points on the Weight Watchers system. According to Weight Watchers, two servings is equal to one point, so avoid overusing the dressing if possible. Fat-free Italian dressing is a wise option to put on salads made with zero-point vegetables, like lettuce, cabbage, tomato, raw onion and kale.
Member Comments