If you must eat gluten-free, it can be difficult to find a weight loss program that fits within your lifestyle. Weight Watchers and Nutrisystem are two commercial diets that offer meal plans and convenience foods. If you cannot eat gluten foods, consult your doctor before beginning a new diet. Some diets can be modified to meet your needs.
Diet Claims
Weight Watchers includes many recipes for gluten-free participants and they are labeled as such on the website's recipe database. Nutrisystem states that its products are not gluten-free and are not appropriate for someone who is following a gluten-free diet. This is because this program is based on pre-made foods that you consume for each meal and snack. In contrast, the Weight Watchers diet allows you to choose your own foods as long as you stay within the points you are able to eat each day.
Foods
The Nutrisystem diet delivers the foods to you, but many contain unsafe ingredients. Anything with wheat, rye or barley is off limits on a gluten-free diet and a large portion of Nutrisystem's foods contain ingredients made with these items. However, the Weight Watchers diet assigns a points value to food based on its nutritional value. You are able to pick what you eat as long as you don't exceed your points for the day. This means you can incorporate foods that are naturally gluten-free, such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy foods and rice.
Unsafe Foods
Many foods are made with by-products of wheat, rye and barley so it is important for you to have a list of safe and unsafe ingredients. This allows you to read the ingredient list on packaged items and determine whether they fit within your Weight Watchers meal plan. Some of the foods that carry a Weight Watchers points value may not be gluten free. Many gluten-free products don't have a points value, so talk with your sponsor to find one that is right for your weight loss goals.
Weight Watchers Recipes
Weight Watchers isn't specifically designed as a gluten-free diet, but it does offer articles and recipes to support this way of eating. The website gives you examples of gluten-free foods with a points value that can be purchased at the store. They also include recipes that are gluten free, including side dishes, main entrees and slow cooker meals. Examples include quinoa and brown rice salads, fish and meat meals with a variety of sauces, and soups and stews. These recipes focus on naturally gluten-free ingredients that have a points value, making it easy to eat gluten-free and follow Weight Watchers at the same time.
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