Fun fact of the day: WW Freestyle™ has more than 200 ZeroPoint™ foods that you never have to weigh, measure, or track. In other words, eating them won’t cost you a single SmartPoints®. Zero, zilch, nada. Brilliant? Agree to agree.
ZeroPoint foods were chosen because they help form the foundation of healthy eating patterns. Think fibre-rich veggies and fruit as well as filling lean protein. Loading your plate with these ingredients isn’t just good for your body—it’s great for weight loss. That’s because ZeroPoint foods are less likely to be overeaten than other foods. Think about it: It’s easier to snack on, say, six cookies than it is to down six ZeroPoint chicken breasts in one sitting.
How to use ZeroPoint foods
There’s no right or wrong way to dig into ZeroPoint foods, but these three ideas can help get you started:
Build on them. Choose one ZeroPoint™ food as a base, then layer in flavour with other foods. For example, you could start with skinless chicken breast (0 SmartPoints), add diced tomatoes (yup, zero), and top with an ounce of mozzarella (3 SmartPoints) and basil (another ZeroPoint food). Lots of yum, very few SmartPoints.
Use them as a cushion. If you’re likely to run out of SmartPoints before the end of the day, turn to recipes made entirely of ZeroPoint ingredients, like hearty veggie soup, to finish within Budget. It’s like a freebie fill-up!
Save up your SmartPoints. Going out for dinner tonight? You could focus on ZeroPoint™ foods at breakfast and lunch so that you have more SmartPoints to play with later on. Then, when you crack the restaurant menu, you’ll have more flexibility to order exactly what you’re in the mood for.
Surprising ZeroPoint foods
You can probably guess what many of the 200+ ZeroPoint foods are: Spinach, asparagus, broccoli, apples, bananas, strawberries…yep, they’re all on the list. But some ZeroPoint foods may surprise you. Read on to learn about these unexpected ZeroPoint foods, as well as fun, tasty ways to use them.
1. Scrambled eggs
This go-to breakfast dish won’t break your Budget. That’s because all eggs—whether scrambled, poached, or made into an omelette—are Zero Points.
2. Caviar
Ooh, la la! Caviar, or salt-cured fish eggs, may be pricey, but it won’t cost you a single SmartPoints.
3. Edamame
Edamame is excellent on its own (or with a sprinkling of salt), but the soybeans are also seriously scrumptious when used as a protein-rich base for homemade hummus.
4. Unsweetened fruit cups
Fruit cups make for an easy, on-the-go snack. Just make sure you choose the unsweetened kind that’s not in a sauce or juice.
5. Tuna
Go fish! On WW Freestyle, every single catch—whether tuna, salmon, trout, or branzino—is ZeroPoints.
6. Spaghetti squash
Fake a plate of spaghetti by baking squash and using a fork to scoop out the pasta-like strands. Top with sauce and cheese, pesto, or roasted veggies—the options are endless.
7. Fat-free, plain Greek yogourt
Here’s a great way to stick to your Budget: Replace condiments like mayo and sour cream with plain, fat-free Greek yogourt. It adds the same creaminess, but without any SmartPoints.
8. Tofu
It’s not just for vegetarians! The soy-based protein can be scrambled like eggs, tossed into a stir-fry, and even baked.
9. Unsweetened applesauce
Great on its own or as a dipping sauce for latkes, applesauce is also delicious when swirled into oatmeal or used as a jelly substitute in a PB&J sandwich.
10. Refried beans
FYI: All beans are ZeroPoint foods, including fat-free, no-sugar-added canned refried beans, which are delicious in a deconstructed burrito salad. Do this: Top lettuce with tomato, corn kernels, diced avocado, seasoned rice, and a scoop of warmed, refried beans. Then add a sprinkle of cheese and hot sauce or salsa. Drooling yet?
11. Fat-free salsa
Grab the chips—or go totally ZeroPoints and dunk veggie slices into the spicy (or mild—your pick!) dip. But don’t stop there. Salsa also adds magic to scrambled eggs and can be used as a condiment with your favourite meat dishes.
12. Unsweetened pickles
Yes, you can get your salty-n-sour fix without using a single SmartPoints. You already know to layer pickles on sandwiches and burgers, but chopped or sliced gherkins can also add an unexpected zing to a number of dishes, from pasta salads to pizza. Sounds odd, but trust us—it’s awesome.
13. Figs
Is there anything more perfectly delicious than a fresh fig? Maybe the fact that each delectable bite is ZeroPoints. Eat ‘em raw (the entire fig—skin, seeds, all of it—is edible) or add slices to salads or cheese trays.