Points For Weight Watchers
Sebastian Thorndike
The weight watcher point system is a tool intended to help people control or lose weight in a way that influences a person's overall lifestyle and eating habits. This calculator can be used to estimate the point value of a food with known parameters.
The point program changes approximately every 2 years. This calculator uses the point system in effect from December 2015 to November 2021. In this system, points were based on calories, sugar, saturated fat, and protein. Fruits and most vegetables are zero-point foods in this system, and the nutrients from fruits and vegetables are only factored in if they are mixed with other food.
In 2018, a new program was implemented. This program still used the same algorithm for determining the point value of foods, but also included over 200 new zero point foods, including lean proteins, eggs, most seafoods, tofu, skinless chicken breast, and many more. The new system also allowed the rollover of 4 unused points per day into a person's weekly point allotment. As a result of these changes, a person's daily point allotment slightly decreased. However, the changes still allowed a person more flexibility than the previous system, due to the numerous new zero point foods.
In 2020, another new program was implemented that involved 3 different plans. Each of the plans differed in terms of daily point allocation, number of zero point foods available, and categories for zero point foods. The algorithm used for determining the point value of foods still remained the same within each of these different programs, so the point values of foods used on this calculator are still relevant through November 2021.
In 2022, along with a new program being implemented, the algorithm used to calculate the point value of foods was also changed. Rather than being based on calories, saturated fat, sugar, and protein, the new point system is based on fiber, protein, unsaturated fats, added sugars, and saturated fats. In general, saturated fats and added sugars increase the point value of foods while unsaturated fats, fiber, and protein decrease the point value. This new point system was simplified and streamlined with fewer choices for 2023. In 2023, everyone except for diabetics will be on the same plan with the same zero points foods list. A recipe's points will once again be the same for everyone.
For many years, everyone who counted points using WW was on the same plan. At the end of 2019 they split the program into three different color plans, each with their own list of ZeroPoint foods. Then a year ago they individualized it even further by introducing PersonalPoints, where every member had their own personalized ZeroPoint foods list. I did hear frustration from some members during this time that they felt it was more difficult to find and share meals, recipes, and foods with others on the program.
It seems like WW has decided to regain that sense of community for its members and get many members back on the same plan. However, diabetic WW members will have a slightly different ZeroPoint food list, so some of my recipes moving forward will list two different Points values per serving. Here are the ZeroPoint food lists for both the standard and diabetic Points plans:
There will still be a separate ZeroPoint food list for diabetics. If you select that you are diabetic in your WW settings you will not have fruit, yogurt, cottage cheese, or corn/popcorn as zero points. Though diabetic members will not have those ZeroPoint food categories, they will have a higher daily points allowance to balance it out! The ZeroPoint foods for the diabetic Points plan will be:
Although WW is moving on from their PersonalPoints program to the new Points plan, their formula for calculating points is remaining the same. The points are calculated using calories, fiber, protein, added sugars, saturated fats and unsaturated fats. The algorithm is intended to help guide you toward foods higher in healthy fats, fiber, and protein and lower in added sugars and saturated fats.
As far as people using the diabetic plan having different ZeroPoint foods and therefore different Points values for recipes containing those foods, I will work on getting those listed as well! Again, if you have chosen the diabetic WW plan in the app then when you click the links in my recipe posts it will show you the correct Points per serving for your plan in the WW app.
Thank you so, so much for this information. I have been watching YouTube videos and reading extensively about the new program, wondering if I should rejoin. Your post is the most thorough, complete post I have read on the new plan. You gave us facts instead of droning on and on with opinion. I am glad I accidentally found this post. Thanks again. I will be following you from now on!
Finally, WW screwed their head back on. I loved the Blue Program. Then they started to fiddle with it. I then threw in the towel and moved on to Healthi. There the Better Balance is like the Blue. Points and all. Now people will once again be able to loose weight and. be able to keep it off.
I have been a WW member for years and have seen a lot of changes. I have learned to adapt to them all. I will miss having brown rice as a zero point food, but I will still eat it and will use my weeklies, if necessary. If I work the program, WW works for me.
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I am losing on personal points but I loved the blue and was doing very well on it when they changed. I am happy for one plan. Although changes come to WW, I am never disappointed. Their Plans are healthy and they WORK!
I am really happy with the changes. I lost almost 30 lbs on the Freestyle program and have STRUGGLED with the noew programs since. I had gained all of my weight back because I had health issues and I am really hoping I can lose it again with the new Points program. Freestyle was easy to follow and I never went without.
It was so difficult to try and find recipes from other WW users, not to mention try to talk to others on WW. My father is also on the program (to lose only 10 lbs) but it was so hard to try to explain to him why my points were different than his.
Thanks so much for the concise update.
I appreciate your hard work. I am not sure about the new plan but willing to try. I loved green.
It would be great if you would create a broth based vegetable soup with corn, peas, carrots and optional chicken breast. It is finding a good seasoning combination that I need help. Maybe one soup with different types of seasoning options
Enjoy your family during the Thanksgiving holidays. My family will be having several of your recipes for Thanksgiving weekend including the pizza dip for a Saturday football party
I would look for a better deal for WW. When I go to the site I am seeing way better deals than that. They have different membership levels based on whether you want to attend meeting or just do it online and the online level is much cheaper than what you were offered.
I just checked on the app and I am VERY confused Brown Rice went from ZERO points to 6 points for 1 cup and White Rice is 6 points for 1 cup. If WW now has brown and white rice as the same point value for 1 cup how the heck was brown rice very a zero point food?
WW was a true success for many including myself back when they used only the daily points system. I am NOT a fan of the new program nor have I been a fan of WW changes. Why cant they stay with one plan that was simple and worked. I have my points calculater from back in the day and go back to using that only. The new changes and plans are a waste of my money and confusing.
I am not happy with the new plan. I too liked potato, sweet potato and wheat pasta which they eliminated. The points for these are now quite high. They did add fruits but fruits do not fill me up. I was OK using my points for fruit. I cancelled but they allowed me a free month but I know the plan will not work for me because the free foods are not filling/enjoyable enough for me. Too bad, I was enjoying the journey but am quite sure I will cancel once the free time is over.
Someone asked me if you use your weeklies points, how do you get the blue dot? I understand that WW wants you to not go over more than 10 points of your daily points. . So if they decided to use 12 of their weeklies one day, will they still get a blue dot? Keeping the blue dot streak going is very important to a lot of people on the program. Thanks!
Welcome to Emily Bites, a cooking blog proving that healthy can be delicious by offering lightened up recipes that never compromise on flavor. All recipes include Weight Watchers values and nutrition info!
Hi Megan, the book and slider I am using are from 2007. Who knew there could be such a drastic difference in points from 2004 to 2007! If the info your husband is using is working for him I say go with that; why mess with a system that works? Good luck to both of you! ?
There is also a completely new Points counting system, so this only works with the old program. Which is great if that is the reading material you have, but would leave you hungry if you were folling the PointsPlus system!
what is your activity level?
If you spend most of your day sitting you get 27 points a day. If you sit occasionally but mainly stand you get 29 points a day. If you are doing physically hard work you get 33 points a day.
Keep in mind this is using the old system, to calculate your daily points, using the new system you would need to look up that information because I know it is quite different from the version of Weight Watchers I did.
Hope that helped! ?
Hello my name is Monique, guess i will be doing the old program. THROW BACK! It worked for me and im reading the comments on this new program and im concerned this one may not work for me. So im going to go on Amazon and look for old books,sliders, scale even!
Awww, the slider, I have such fond memories of mine! You miiiiight be able to find one online but other than searching through Craigslist and other such sites I have no idea where you might find one. As for making one, that is an intriguing idea. If you could find pictures of one you might be able to duplicate it.
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