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. It helps keep me accountable and I hope you find it helpful as well.
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 and some simple meal prep.
For more on meal prep, be sure to check out my post with 101 Meal Prep Tips from Successful Weight Watchers.
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.
As far as I'm concerned the Slow Cooker is the best invention ever for folks trying to eat healthy and lose weight without losing their minds.
Meal Planning + Slow Cooking = Easy Healthy Dinner!
I use mine at least once a week, sometimes more!
I'm absolutely, positively convinced that cooking with my crock-pot (affiliate link) is directly linked to the success I've had keeping my weight off!
We are a family of two, so most recipes result in leftovers that we are happy to pack up for lunch the next day, freeze for a future quick-and-easy meal, or transform somehow.
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.
You can do-it-yourself, of course.
But, if you want a little help with your meal plans be sure to check out:
- My Month of Meal Plans eBook (updated with WW Freestyle SmartPoints)
- Kristen from Slender Kitchen's Meal Planning Made Easy (affiliate link)
- Alisha from Meal Planning Mommies 12-Week Meal Planner eCookbook (affiliate link) and Meals for Two (affiliate link)
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.
What I love about Slender Kitchen Meal Plans (affiliate link) is that I don't have to think. I print out the grocery list, do the shopping and when it's time, head into the kitchen and get right to cooking!
I subscribe to her service and use her plans the weeks when I want someone else to tell me what to cook!!
This Week's WW Meal Plan Suggestions with WW Freestyle SmartPoints:
Most days my breakfast is something quick like an english muffin with almond butter, avocado toast, eggs, yogurt with fruit, oatmeal or a smoothie, depending on my mood and the season.
Lunch is usually leftovers or some combination of soup / sandwich / salad.
This week I am planning to make...
I am just back from a weeklong cruise to Mexico where I indulged in dessert every single day. While the splurges were worth it I will be compensating for the next week or two.
There will be extra servings of fresh fruits and vegetables and lots of soup on the menu.
Tangy Florentine Spinach Soup with Chicken (*1 WW Freestyle SmartPoint) and Pear Salad (*4 WW Freestyle SmartPoints)
Grilled Vegetables (*WW Freestyle SmartPoints vary with amount of oil used), Hummus & Pita Bread
Salmon (*4 WW Freestyle SmartPoints or Less) and WW Orzo Salad with Vegetables (*4 WW Freestyle SmartPoints)
Sausage Spinach Wild Rice Soup (*3 WW Freestyle SmartPoints) & Crusty Bread
I hope this helps you with your own meal planning this week 🙂
*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.
Slim and Sassy Metabolic Gum
By the way, I'm loving this Slim & Sassy Metabolic Gum to help with cravings and cut down on mindless snacking and munching while getting dinner ready!
Thank you, my friend. You made such a difference in my WW journey and I really appreciate your help.
~ Jill L.
Do You Struggle with Meal Planning?
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.
After offering a Bonus Meal Plan with recipes and grocery list as part of my Slow Cook Yourself Slim eCookbook Bundle (updated with WW Freestyle SmartPoints), I got tons of requests for more.
So I assembled this Meal Plan eBook (with Freestyle SmartPoints) to make meal planning a breeze. It provides you with a month (four weeks) of meal plans with WW friendly recipes and grocery lists!
If you prefer a more sophisticated approach to meal planning with more flexibility and tons of options, you might want to check out my WW Friend Kristen from Slender Kitchen's Meal Planning Made Easy (affiliate link), which I highly recommend!
Real people. Real weight loss. Real progress.
Here's what other people are saying...
Martha, Thank you for the wonderful recipes!!! totally agree with you, planning your meals ahead is the key to a great weight loss!
~ Valerie G.
Just wanted you to know that I bought these meal plans this morning and two hours later I made the frittata, which was delicious! This is just what I’ve been needing. We tried Blue Apron, but they are high calorie. Your idea for this is fabulous. I'll definitely advertise at my meeting.
~ Susan
I've been following the meal plans 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 Meal Planning Ideas with Freestyle SmartPoints - Week #95
- Dinner with Weight Watchers Freestyle SmartPoints - Week #94
- Weight Watchers Friendly Freestyle Dinner Ideas - Week #93
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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Jennifer Corley
Martha,
I had to have my iPhone fixed and lost all of the ebooks I purchased a few weeks ago. Can you resend them?
Thanks,
Jennifer Corley