Weight Watchers Recipes For Fall Favorites

At Weight Watchers no food is off limits – it’s all about portions and understanding your choices.  The trick is learning how to control portions if you decide to indulge or how to avoid eating candy by keeping sensitive alternatives handy.

1)      Everything in moderation: A snack- or fun-size chocolate bar (the usual trick-or-treat booty) typically has about 100 calories, which is a sensible treat. However, eating multiple fun-size bars on a regular basis can lead to lots of extra calories. It’s up to you to watch your portions and not overdo it.

Props: Mini candy bars and treats under 100 calories

2)      Keep count and a visual tally: Studies show that diners at barbecue joints tend to eat more wings when waitresses continually take away their bones. There’s no reason to think that those mini-Butterfingers are any different. So while it’s tempting to toss the wrapper as soon as you pop one in your mouth, keep the evidence on your desk as a visual tally.  But the stuff you don’t like or give away non candy items.

Props: Empty wrappers, alternative giveaways (sugar free gum etc)

3)      Make a smarter choice: If you know that there’s no chance you’ll nibble a couple of Starbursts without tearing through the whole pack, it may be best to avoid them altogether. Steer yourself against temptation by pulling out a guilt-free snack you brought from home while everyone’s flocking to the treat table. Grapes, apples, fruit cups, Jell-O cups, meringue cookies and light hot chocolate are all satisfying alternatives.

Props: Healthy alternatives

4)      Don’t throw in the towel:  If you do overindulge, move on.  The all-or-nothing mentality is what hurts people the most.  If I buy a dozen eggs and I break one, I clean the broken egg up and get on with my day. I don’t break the 11 other eggs

Props: Eggs, one broken.

5)       Are you hungry, or just tense or tired?: With Halloween treats around you may find lots of reasons to eat and nibble on candy at the office or at home.  At Weight Watchers we encourage you to stay full and satisfied, fruits, vegetables, proteins. If you need something sweet try this delicious filling recipe.

Props: Stay satisfied with meals, WW Power foods like fruits and veggies that can keep you full and satisfied and treats in proper portions. 

Check out these great recipes that will satisfy your sweet tooth but not break your weight loss resolve:

Baked Candy Apples

PointsPlus® Value:    5

Servings:  4

Preparation Time:  5 min

Cooking Time:  40 min

Like the classic but with a delicious caramel-candy twist:

                4 medium apple(s), unpeeled, Granny Smith recommended   

                1/2 cup(s) water   

                1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice   

                2 average cinnamon stick(s)   

                7 piece(s) Weight Watchers by Whitman’s Pecan crowns, or caramel medallions   

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a melon baller or paring knife, de-stem and core each apple, leaving the bottoms intact.

Place cored apples in an 8-inch glass baking dish. Pour water around apples in baking dish. Add lemon juice and cinnamon sticks.

Cut candy into 1/4-inch pieces. Set aside 8 teaspoons of candy pieces. Place remaining candy pieces into each apple.

Place apples in oven and bake until apples are thoroughly cooked and fork-tender, about 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from oven briefly and top each apple with 2 teaspoons candy. Return to oven and bake until candy is just melted, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove promptly and serve warm. Yields 1 baked apple per serving.

Notes For extra low-calorie decadence, add a dollop of fat-free whipped topping to each apple before serving (could affect PointsPlus values).

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Candy Corn Custard Parfait

1 Serving 4 PointsPlus Values

Ingredients:

1 Jell-O Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding Snack

2 drops yellow food coloring

1/3 cup mandarin orange segments in juice, drained

1/4 cup Cool Whip Free, thawed

5 pieces candy corn

Directions:

In a small bowl or parfait glass, combine pudding with food coloring and mix until uniform in color.

Top evenly first with orange segments and then with Cool Whip

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PB and Apple Sandwiches
PointsPlus values per serving: 2

Cut half a large apple into 4 thick, even slices. Spread two slices with 1 teaspoon peanut butter each. Drizzle each with 1/8 tsp honey and top with another apple slice.

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Apple and Cheddar Melts
PointsPlus values per serving: 2

Take half a large apple and cut it into 4 thick, even slices; top each slice with 1 1/2 teaspoons low-fat shredded sharp cheddar cheese. Microwave apples until cheese melts, about 20 seconds; sprinkle with a total of 2 teaspoons pumpkin seeds.

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Cranberry-Pumpkin Bars

4 PointsPlus Value

Prep time:  15 min

Cook time:  25 min

Serves: 18

If you don`t have pumpkin pie spice in your pantry, substitute 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon each of nutmeg, ginger and clove.