Weight Watchers Friendly Meal Planning Ideas
Every Friday I send out an email with what I'm planning to eat for dinner in the coming week which I also archive here on the blog. Planning our my Weight Watchers Dinner Recipes keeps me accountable and I hope you also find it helpful.
The Benefits of Weekly Meal Planning
Getting dinner on the table is so much easier when you've planned what you're cooking and eating ahead of time and done the grocery shopping. It's the only thing that prevents me from resorting to fast food or takeout more often than I should.
Every time I get out of the meal planning habit and resort to take-out, restaurants, and snacking on junk, it's amazing how crappy I feel and how quickly the pounds pack on.
The Key to Eating Well is Cooking
When you're trying to eat well, not cooking isn't an option. There are just too many unknowns (hidden sugar, flour, fats, chemicals, points), too many temptations, and portions are way too large for you to routinely eat well on take-out or pre-made food.
The Key to Consistent Cooking is Planning
In the beginning meal planning can be a huge chore. The key is finding an approach that works for you over the long haul.
What I love about Slender Kitchen Meal Plans (affiliate link) is that I don't have to spend time figuring it out. They are perfect for those times when I want someone else to "just tell me what to cook." I print out the grocery list, do the shopping and when it's time, head into the kitchen and get right to cooking!
For those of us following Weight Watchers, having meal plans with the SmartPoints included can make the switch easier and less stressful. Slender Kitchen Meal Plans (affiliate link) have options for green, blue, and purple!
If you are looking for a Healthy Meal Planning Solution (affiliate link) with lots of options including low carb and vegetarian diets with complete nutritional information and Weight Watchers SmartPoints, my WW friend Kristen, from Slender Kitchen has a really good one.
This Week's WW Meal Plan Suggestions with SmartPoints:
Breakfast
Most days my breakfast is something quick like an english muffin with almond butter, half a banana with some peanut butter, avocado toast, eggs, yogurt with fruit, oatmeal or a smoothie, depending on my mood and the season.
Lunch
Lunch is usually leftovers or some combination of soup / sandwich / salad. This week I plan to make a batch of Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup to enjoy all week for quick and easy lunches.
Dinner
Sometimes I love sitting down with my cookbooks and favorite recipes to map out my weekly dinner menus. But right now I'm in a post holiday funk and what someone else to "just tell me what to cook."
That's when Kristen's Magical Meal Plans come to the rescue. With a couple of clicks I can download the plan, grocery list and recipes and I'm ready to go with minimal effort.
This week I'll be making...
This week I'm planning to use this Free Weight Watchers Meal Plan with new MyWW Blue, Green, Purple SmartPoints (affiliate link) to make:
- Thai Basil Ground Beef Bowl (300 calories, 6 Green, 6 Blue, 6 Purple SmartPoints®)
This Thai Basil Ground Beef Bowl makes the perfect twenty-minute weeknight meal and you won't believe the flavor! Served with cauliflower rice, it's a healthy meal you will make again and again.
- Greek Turkey Tostadas (346 calories, 5 Green, 4 Blue, 4 Purple SmartPoints®)
These Greek Tostadas with Turkey are a suppertime favorite anytime of year. Toasted pita, Greek spiced ground turkey, bright tomatoes, crispy cucumbers, red onion, and feta - there is nothing better.
- Skillet Vegetable Lasagna (327 calories, 9 Green, 9 Blue, 9 Purple SmartPoints®)
Love lasagna but don't love how long it takes? Consider making this skillet vegetable lasagna instead. It has all the great flavor of lasagna but is made in one skillet on the stove. Mix up the vegetables to include all your favorites and use traditional ricotta cheese or substitute for cottage cheese. Delicious either way and great for freezing.
Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops with Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts (image courtesy of SlenderKitchen)
- Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops with Crispy Balsamic Brussels Sprouts (383 calories, 9 Green, 9 Blue, 9 Purple SmartPoints®)
I have been making these simple Parmesan Pork Chops for years, inspired by a dish my mother used to make. Her version included breadcrumbs and an obscene amount of oil, but I have found I like this baked version using all Parmesan cheese even better. The cheese creates a yummy crunch on the outside that pairs with the lemon and Italian seasoning perfectly.
Click on the free meal plan above for all the recipes!
I hope this helps you with your own meal planning this week 🙂
Meal Planning Made Easy
We all know how important healthy meal planning is to lasting weight loss success. And how frustrating it can be to actually pull-off week after week.
That's where Slender Kitchen's Meal Planning Made Easy (affiliate link), comes to the rescue!
Here's what other people are saying about her meal plans...
I really enjoy the Slender Kitchen Meal Plans (affiliate link)! The best part for me is that I don't have to come up with "what's for dinner?" I like having that work done for me and appreciate that the leftovers are planned for another meal instead of wasting the food. I've been a Weight Watchers member since 1986 and I love the plan, have kept my weight down and enjoy cooking.
~ Jamie
I have been using Slender Kitchen Meal Plans (affiliate link) since last year and we love it! Even more excited now that it has the new points. The recipes are easy, family friendly, and taste good. I love that I can customize for our family and the shopping list saves me so much time and money. One of my best purchases last year. ~ Camille
I've been following Kristen's Meal Planning Made Easy (affiliate link) from day one. I love, love, love the shopping list. Makes it so easy to stay organized and I've been saving money at the grocery store too because of it. I have enjoyed all the recipes and feel like they are so easy to follow! I purchased for the year and I'm one happy lady! Thanks again!
~ Nicole
More WW Friendly Meal Planning Ideas
- WW Dinner Ideas with Freestyle SmartPoints - Week #88
- WW Freestyle Dinner Meal Planning Ideas - Week #87
- WW Weekly Dinner Meal Planning with SmartPoints - Week #86
*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.
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.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Diane
How much does it cost to silubscribe to your website? I like the idea of a grocery list and menu planning.
Martha McKinnon
There is no charge to subscribe to my website. I do sell eBooks and such, but they are all one time charges. Hope this helps! - Martha
Barbara Dryden
My main problem is not eating pork. I don't no what to do.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Barbara, these are just suggestions. If you don't eat pork, replace it with something else. Leave the ham out of the soup and have a chicken breast instead of pork chop! Hope this helps - Martha
Nikhil
Hi Martha, another great article I've read on your blog. Thanks for providing so much value to users. I just published a new post about home workouts on my blog. If you would like to see and share with your community. https://www.livefitnow.in/home-exercises-for-weight-loss/