Go Lean and Green with Weight Watchers on St. Patty's Day
By: Meaghan Collier
Updated: March 13, 2013
It's one of the year's biggest celebrations, when everyone gets to be Irish for a day! And with Weight Watchers new 360 Program it is possible to enjoy all your St Patty's Day favorites in a healthy way. It's all about tracking and planning ahead.
Here are some simple strategies to go lean and green on St. Patty's Day and all year long:
Pass the Green Tea and/or Beer Please: In addition to the added health benefits that green tea can provide, a glass of green tea can help put you in a relaxed holiday mood. Best of all - it has a Points Plus value of Zero.
Remember, it's all about moderation, not deprivation. So, if green beer is part of you celebration - think light. While a 12 ounce beer will cost you 5 PointsPlus values, light beer ranges from 2-3 PointsPlus values. It's all about tracking and planning for what you want to enjoy.
Eat your greens. With Weight Watchers Power Foods include fruits, veggies, lean meat, and low fat dairy. And fruits and veggies have 0 PointsPlus values. So go GREEN and focus on everything from green grapes and apples to those good-for-you green veggies like cabbage and spinach. These high fiber foods will fill you up and keep you satisfied. The great thing about Weight Watchers is we assign everything a point value based on protein, carbohydrates, fat and fiber. Healthy choices that fill you up cost" the least.
We have a great appetizer recipe for one of these green vegetables - Spinach Parmesan Dip. This Weight Watchers version has just about 1/3 of half the PointsPlus values of the traditional dip. You have to love a dip recipe that not only livens up crudite but also doubles as a fabulous finishing sauce for grilled chicken or pasta.
We just combine spinach with chopped tomatoes, basil, parmesan cheese and salt and pepper in a blender or food processor.
Serve this great green dip with crunchy green vegetables like Broccoli, Green bell peppers, celery and zucchini.
One serving has just 1 PointsPlus value.
Avoid boredom. Challenge yourself to try a new recipe or food each week. This will increase your repertoire of go-to foods and make you more knowledgeable about the impact those foods have on you. If you have left over Corn beef and cabbage-make sure you use a lean cut - it makes a delicious dinner the night after. Try this corn beef and cabbage strudel. This twist on the traditional St. Patrick's Day menu of cabbage, potatoes and corned beef is a savory delight.
We keep the PointsPlus values down by simply selecting a lean cut of beef round
If you are going to a St. Patty's Day Party or out to a restaurant or bar, plan ahead. If its a party, bring the dip and your own light beer. If it's a restaurant plan ahead and know what you will order before you get there. If you are a Weight Watchers member you can go to our restaurant app on your smart phone and find the choices that make the most sense for your daily PointsPlus values and if not, just check the restaurant website. Plan what you will order and be prepared when you get there.
For more information about Weight Watchers, visit the website at www.weightwatchers.com
Here are some simple strategies to go lean and green on St. Patty's Day and all year long:
Pass the Green Tea and/or Beer Please: In addition to the added health benefits that green tea can provide, a glass of green tea can help put you in a relaxed holiday mood. Best of all - it has a Points Plus value of Zero.
Remember, it's all about moderation, not deprivation. So, if green beer is part of you celebration - think light. While a 12 ounce beer will cost you 5 PointsPlus values, light beer ranges from 2-3 PointsPlus values. It's all about tracking and planning for what you want to enjoy.
Eat your greens. With Weight Watchers Power Foods include fruits, veggies, lean meat, and low fat dairy. And fruits and veggies have 0 PointsPlus values. So go GREEN and focus on everything from green grapes and apples to those good-for-you green veggies like cabbage and spinach. These high fiber foods will fill you up and keep you satisfied. The great thing about Weight Watchers is we assign everything a point value based on protein, carbohydrates, fat and fiber. Healthy choices that fill you up cost" the least.
We have a great appetizer recipe for one of these green vegetables - Spinach Parmesan Dip. This Weight Watchers version has just about 1/3 of half the PointsPlus values of the traditional dip. You have to love a dip recipe that not only livens up crudite but also doubles as a fabulous finishing sauce for grilled chicken or pasta.
We just combine spinach with chopped tomatoes, basil, parmesan cheese and salt and pepper in a blender or food processor.
Serve this great green dip with crunchy green vegetables like Broccoli, Green bell peppers, celery and zucchini.
One serving has just 1 PointsPlus value.
Avoid boredom. Challenge yourself to try a new recipe or food each week. This will increase your repertoire of go-to foods and make you more knowledgeable about the impact those foods have on you. If you have left over Corn beef and cabbage-make sure you use a lean cut - it makes a delicious dinner the night after. Try this corn beef and cabbage strudel. This twist on the traditional St. Patrick's Day menu of cabbage, potatoes and corned beef is a savory delight.
We keep the PointsPlus values down by simply selecting a lean cut of beef round
If you are going to a St. Patty's Day Party or out to a restaurant or bar, plan ahead. If its a party, bring the dip and your own light beer. If it's a restaurant plan ahead and know what you will order before you get there. If you are a Weight Watchers member you can go to our restaurant app on your smart phone and find the choices that make the most sense for your daily PointsPlus values and if not, just check the restaurant website. Plan what you will order and be prepared when you get there.
For more information about Weight Watchers, visit the website at www.weightwatchers.com
