The Weight Watchers program teaches members to keep track of how many food points are eaten to both lose weight and maintain the weight loss. It does not require buying special food or cutting any foods out of the diet. Instead, it teaches portion control while consuming a wide variety of foods. Since Weight Watchers encourages lifelong healthy eating habits, it can work with the food pyramid.
Food Pyramid
The food pyramid encourages you to eat a wide variety of foods with an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, lean protein and whole grains, while watching fat, salt and cholesterol intake, says the USDA MyPyramid.gov website. The amount of food needed from each food group is based on age, gender, current weight and overall physical health. The website offers individualized plans and advice on losing weight safely by controlling calorie intake and getting regular exercise. Safe weight loss means taking in less calories than are burned off while not robbing your body of important nutrients.
Weight Watchers
Weight Watchers assigns point values to all foods based on the calorie, fat, protein, carbohydrate and fiber content. Foods low in points tend to be low in calories and fat and high in fiber. To lose the recommended 1 to 2 lbs. per week, each member is allowed a certain number of points to eat each day. This simplifies the process of counting calories and encourages healthy food choices. The goal is to learn to eat foods purchased at the supermarket, at restaurants and social gatherings so that weight can be lost and maintained without feeling deprived.
Low-energy Density Foods
The Weight Watchers plan, like the food pyramid, encourages cutting back on calorie intake while exercising to burn off calories. In addition, members are encouraged to eat smarter, not less. Weight Watchers recommends getting most of your allowed daily points from foods that are low-energy density foods. These are foods such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which are low in calories and loaded with nutrition, which help your body to feel full. This means that when selecting foods and counting points, you can use the food pyramid as a guide. Most of your daily points should come from the two largest sections of the food pyramid, which are whole grains and fruits and vegetables.
Daily Needs
Since each individual's needs are different, it is important to meet with a Weight Watchers leader and/or registered dietitian who can recommend how many servings from each food group you should get. Weight Watchers members can use tools such as the Weight Watchers website, member pocket guides and other resources to determine how many points are eaten each day, while using the pyramid guidelines. Combining the two programs will make sure you do not rob your body of nutrients while trying to lose weight. The pyramid can guide you in making healthy food choices, while the Weight Watchers points plan is an easier way to keep track of calorie intake. Both programs encourage regular exercise and lifelong healthy eating habits. Weight-loss programs that do both are the most successful at keeping the weight off.
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