How Many Weight Watchers Points is a banana?
What makes Weight Watchers different from other diet wellness programs and the reason it worked well for me is that you can eat whatever you like. On WW no foods are off limits.
But if you are choosing to eat fast food, chips and cookies, you'll use up your points on a small amount of food and may end up being very hungry.
Fresh Fruit Salad
To help you make better choices, and fill you up, most fresh fruits and veggies on the Weight Watchers plan are zero points, which means you can eat them without adding to your daily point total. (Please Note: On the latest Weight Watchers Diabetes Specific Plan Fruit including Bananas are NOT Zero Points Foods.)
Weight Watchers Points for Fruit
All fresh fruits—including bananas—have 0 points on the Weight Watchers program. (Please Note: On the latest Weight Watchers Diabetes Specific Plan Fruit including Bananas are NOT Zero Points Foods.)
In addition to bananas, the 0 points fruit list includes apples, apricots, blueberries, grapes, oranges, pineapple, plums, raspberries, strawberries, and watermelon. Canned fruit packed in its own juice also has zero points, along with frozen fruit without any added sugar.
Dried fruit is different. You do have to count points for dried fruit.
So a ¼-cup serving of dehydrated, dried or freeze-dried bananas has 4 points.
The WW points value for the same size serving of other dried fruit ranges from 4 to 7 depending on the sweetness of the fruit. Dried apricots have 4 points, dried cranberries 5 points, raisins and dried figs 6 points, and dates 7 points.
Dried Apricots, Prunes and Golden Raisins
A dried fruit mix has 6 points per ¼-cup serving.
Canned fruit packed in syrup also has points.
A ½-cup serving of peaches packed in extra light syrup has 3 points, while the same serving packed in light syrup has 4 points and packed in heavy syrup has 6 points.
Canned Peaches
A ½-cup serving of mandarin oranges packed in light syrup has 5 points, and a ½-cup serving of fruit salad packed in heavy syrup has 7 points.
Fruit juice also contains points.
There are 2 points in a half cup or grapefruit juice, 3 points in a half cup of orange juice or pineapple juice and 5 points in a half cup of prune juice.
Related: What Foods are Zero Points on WW (Weight Watchers)?
The History of Bananas Points on Weight Watchers
Speaking of bananas, did you know that they have a long and complicated history on Weight Watchers?
Sliced bananas with maple syrup
As a Weight Watchers geek who first learned of the original plan in the early 1970s when my mother and grandmother attended for a time, and then used it myself to lose weight and achieve lifetime status in the early 1990s, I find it a fascinating illustration of just how dynamic the fields of nutrition and weight loss are.
I was inspired to write up this brief history in response to a question I received recently...
Q: I love eating fruit whether fresh or cooked! But I have read in other weight loss groups that bananas, pineapple, melons, and grapes are counter intuitive to you losing weight. They should only be eaten rarely so I am trying to cut back on eating them. Has this been discussed within the WW community or meetings?
A: Fruit can be a hot topic within the WW community. But first a disclaimer: What I'm about to share is ONLY my personal opinion and not endorsed by WW. I'm not connected with WW at all beyond being an active lifetime member.
When I look at the history of the WW diet I find it fascinating. The original WW plan (1960s) was very very restrictive.
Fresh picked clementines
While 2-3 servings of fruit per day were allowed, bananas, cherries, watermelon and grapes were considered "illegal." (Yes, foods were categorized as "legal" and "illegal" in the early years.)
Later when Weight Watchers used the exchange approach, (the plan I lost my weight with) 2-3 servings of fruit were recommended. Half a medium banana or 10 grapes was considered "one serving."
When The Weight Watchers Points System was introduced in the mid 1990s, both an Oreo cookie and a banana cost you 2 points. The responsibility was on you to incorporate "the good health guidelines" and eat a balanced diet.
I can remember being at meetings where members would say they weren't going to "waste" 2 points on a banana when they could have a snack pack of cookies instead. (Losing weight is not a rational process.)
Oreo Cookies
I believe Weight Watchers caught a lot of flack from the health community for this and so fruits became 0 points with the introduction of PointsPlus. The motivation was to encourage eating fruits and vegetables because most Americans don't get enough. I fully support this.
However, some members really struggled transitioning from Points to PointsPlus because they began overeating fruit. I think this is still an issue for some people.
A few years ago, I read a WW magazine article by its former CEO, David Kirchhoff, saying that "0" isn't the same as "free" and while you could have success on the plan eating a banana, it didn't mean you could eat a bunch of them.
I think this is especially true when you only have a small amount of weight to lose.
Bananas at the grocery store
(A large raw banana has about 120 calories, a small one about 90. So if you eat several of them a day you can end up taking in as many calories as a Big Mac!)
Now with Weight Watchers latest Beyond the Scale SmartPoints Program, bananas are the most tracked food by members.
Talk about doing a 180. In a little over 50 years, on Weight Watchers the banana has gone from "illegal" to "most tracked" food!
Personally, I love bananas and eat one (or half of one) most days. I know other Weight Watchers members who feel they are "fattening" so steer clear of them.
I've even met members who claim to eat 5 to 6 bananas a day. What I like about WW is that it provides a framework that allows for plenty of individual choice.
I usually limit myself to 2-3 servings of fruit a day. More than that and I tend to gain weight.
History would suggest that when you are trying to lose or maintain your weight moderation of all foods, even those labeled "0 Points" or free, is necessary. But the bottom line is that it will take experimentation to figure out just how much fruit is right for you!
Did you find reading about bananas and their Weight Watchers history interesting?
Did it help you better understand how bananas went from being banned to the most tracked food on the program in just a few decades?
Do you see how when it comes to eating, there's no one right way, only the right way for you?
I hope so. Thanks for reading!
You May Also Like:
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- It Took Me a Long Time to Appreciate the Gift of WW Lifetime Membership
- 101 Essential Links & Resources for Weight Watchers
P.S. I received the sweetest feedback last week that had me doing a happy dance...
Martha, I just want to say thank you so much. I purchased and downloaded the e-book bundle and am loving them. My husband is out of town for a week so I am using all your recipes and guidance to get started on the weight loss. I am feeling really motivated thanks to you. ~ Sandy
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
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D. Allen
Love reading your suggestions and encouragement!!
Robin @rkosully
That's so interesting about how WW has evolved in its position on bananas. Thank you for sharing!
Lynda
Just a reminder, too, that if you blend fruits (for smoothies and such) they also need to be counted. For instance, if you blend a banana in a smoothie it is now 5 SP. Berries will be roughly 2 SP for 1/2 cup blended.
Karcer
I don't see where the app says that. I often add a small handful of berries to a shakeology shake. Why would blending in a few unsweetened strawberries vs eating them make a difference?
Martha McKinnon
heres an explanation that may help:https://simple-nourished-living.com/how-to-count-ww-smartpoints-for-fruits-vegetables-blended-into-drinks-smoothies/
Jay Jai Carrier
Blending or just eating does not make any difference at all.
Sue
Years ago the company I worked for, started a Health First Program. Focusing on healthy eating & exercise. For those who needed to lose weight, the company brought in Weight Watchers. Struggling with less than 20 lbs to lose, I thought, "why not." Much to my surprise, it really worked. I was so impressed. Fast forward to today; I'm retired, not to active and at least 40 lbs, (if not more) over weight. Tried low carb but my husband loves to eat out way to much for that. "Now what." Then I remembered my experience with WW. So I sat down at my computer, with my trustee "OLD" calculator at my side, (pleased with myself that I still had it) to find a few good recipes. Hours later and totally confused by Points Plus, Smart Points, Flex Points, Zero points and oh yes, even Freestyle Smart Points. Is There No End To It! Look....I know that WW has a great program, but come on.....could they make it any more confusing for those of us who are past members. Any HELP would be greatly appreciated, Thanks!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Sue, I know what you mean! I'm a fan of WW, but lost my weight with them before the transition to Points. You may want to consider finding the old book called WW Quick Success on ebay or Amazon. You can learn more here: https://simple-nourished-living.com/why-i-think-the-old-weight-watchers-food-exchange-program-quick-success-was-better-than-points/
Bonnie Olson
When I first joined WW in the 70s, my instructor told us we were to weigh the bananas with the skins on to determine points!
Martha McKinnon
Fascinating, Bonnie!!! Thanks for sharing. ~Martha