Low Points

If you are a Weight Watcher, you know just what I meant by that title.

Yes, I am a Weight Watcher. I am not ashamed to admit it. In fact, if you could see me now, you'd see a skinny Asian 30-something year old, dancing without much rhythm (Damn! I always spell that word wrong!) but pleased as punch.

Stop me on the street. Ask me a question. You'll be sorry you did! I could go on and on about why I think Weight Watcher's is the best thing since sliced bread. Since sliced 1 point bread.

I began my new lifestyle in April 2006, and since then, have lost 30+ pounds and quit smoking. I've made lifetime and have been successfully maintaining my weight. (And no,I am not pregnant...as I know at least one of you is wondering...Mr. Anonymous!)

But, I digress.

This post is about food, not about Weight Watcher's or my journey and discoveries along the way. I promise to write more about that later for anyone who may be interested. Back to food.

Just finished some newly discovered Trader Joe's food. In the art class I attend with my son, we have to bring snacks for the children and adults so I've had the opportunity to sample some foods I wouldn't normally buy. I found some from Trader Joe's items that are low fat/calorie and tasty. I just ate a small bit of chips and salsa and some mini wheat pita bread with hummus. Yummus! 2 mini pitas and 1 serving hummus for 2 points. TJ's chocolate cat cookies are 2 points per serving. Oh, and my absolute favorite is TJ's banana crisp. It is a thinner banana chip with all the great numbers...30 grams of chips is 40 calories, 1 gram fat, and 1 gram fiber.

If you love pasta, you absolutely must find Shirataki Tofu Noodles. For 1 package, 8oz, it is 40 calories, 1 gram fat, and 4 grams fiber. Make sure to rinse well before cooking. I find no difference between the spaghetti type and fettucini type. Just don't be surprised that fettucini costs more for some strange reason. The noodle texture is firm and chewy. For me, it is like biting into a cooked white mushroom. Other than the texture, I think it's as good as the real stuff.

The Weight Watcher's Chocolate cake is great too. 1 point for 1 piece. I also love their ice cream cones (2 points). I enjoy Safeway's Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (1 point per cookie). If you can eat rice cakes, Quaker's Quakes are pretty good. I love the sweeter flavors (usually 7 cakes for 1 point).

Love yogurt? Hate the taste of Dannon's or Weight Watcher's yogurt? You must try Lucerne light yogurt. All their flavors are great. I said LIGHT not low fat. Low fat means more calories. The light is 110 calories, 0 grams fat, 0 fiber. Absolutely the best (hands down) yogurt on the market. If you find a better one that is equal to or lower in points, I want to know!

But, the absolute best dessert/snack I have ever found is at Vons (maybe Safeway for you?). It is in your freezer section. It is a package of 12 small apple turnovers made by a company called Pegasus (see picture below). It is 1 point for an absolutely delicious, not too sweet, flaky apple turnover. If you can find it, I promise you will love it. Get some low fat vanilla ice cream/yogurt to go with it if you really want to feel like you are splurging!



And if you really really need to eat something that is 3 points or more, like potato chips, go ahead. That's the beauty of Weight Watcher's. Just remember to track and count. And for goodness sakes! Stay within your points!

No food is porn food! It's all good! Just know when to say when!

And unlike Forrest Gump and his "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know...", we need to know what we are eating. I want to know what I get before it goes into my mouth. Nothing sucks more than a few "surprise" points.

Okay, that's all I want to say about low point snacks.

By the way, a shout out to my BCB buddies! You guys rock!