From its unpresuming start with a group of friends getting together in the early 1960s to support each other with their weight loss, Weight Watchers has blossomed into an organization that boasts 4.6 million members.
Over the years, Weight Watchers has always sought to reinvent the programs that it offers so that it remains relevant to the needs of its current members while being an attractive choice for people seeking to lose weight.
In November 2019, Weight Watchers overhauled its programs and now offer color-coded plans: Green, Blue, and Purple. Which plan you decide to go with is simply a matter of your personal choice and lifestyle.
Here we will look at the Green Plan, what it offers, who it’s suited for, and how it’s different from the other plans available. Also, we will run you through a list of the food that you can have on this plan.
What is Weight Watchers Green Plan?
The green plan gives you the most SmartPoints out of the three available plans. It also holds you more accountable through the points system, than the Blue and Purple plan.
On the Green Plan, you can have over 100 Zero Point foods, mostly fruit, and vegetables. These foods have been deliberately chosen so that you start to have a more healthy diet. Yet, you still get to have the food you love, as long as you stay within the SmartPoints daily and weekly allocation.
How many Weight Watchers points is Green?
With the Green Plan, you start with 30 SmartPoints. Weight Watchers understands that everyone is different and so the SmartPoints system allocates points based on your height, weight, age, and gender.
You can use the points however you desire. One day you might decide to binge on a pizza and then the next day has a full-on zero-point day. That’s the flexibility that the Green Plan offers.
You even can have weekly rollovers of points to spend the following week if you haven’t used up your full SmartPoints balance.
What’s the difference between the Green, Blue, and Purple Plans?
Green, Blue, and Purple. What’s the difference between these plans? As we mentioned, the Green Plan offers you the most SmartPoints out of all three plans. Also, you have more choice to have the foods you long for.
Let’s have a breakdown of the differences in the plans:
The Green Plan
This plan provides you with 30 SmartPoints, yet offers the least amount of Zero Point foods with these being mainly fruit and vegetables.
The Blue Plan
If you are on the Blue Plan you get a minimum of 23 SmartPoints and over 200 ZeroPoints foods with the list including lean meat on this plan.
The Purple Plan
The Purple Plan has the least amount of SmartPoints and the list of ZeroPoint foods is extended to include over 300 items covering fruit, vegetables, lean meat, and whole grains.
If you decide to change plans, you can. But Weight Watchers recommends you stay on a plan for at least 2 weeks before changing.
The Blue Plan vs The Green Plan
Should you go on the Blue Plan or the Green Plan? It’s all about choice and discipline.
However, according to some Reddit users, they found that the Green Plan was more restrictive in the ZeroPoint food options. So, if you were sticking to the plan and points then you may find that the Green Plan is quite confining, especially if you are out on a lunch or dinner date.
The Blue Plan, through its wider array of ZeroPoint foods, provides more freedom to choose a more rounded diet and more options when creating a recipe. However, there is the downside of having fewer daily SmatPoints on the Blue Plan.
Which color plan is the best?
With the three different plans available, perhaps you are wondering which one is best. Whenever it comes down to considering what is best in anything, it always boils down to one thing…you!
What are your goals in going on a Weight Watchers Plan? How do you feel about having a limited option of food choices from which you can create meals?
Let’s take you through the best points of each plan and then you can make an informed decision as to which one matches your lifestyle. Remember, you can always change plans!
The Green Plan
You have to take more responsibility for what you eat on this plan. Though it offers more daily SmartPoints than the Blue and Purple Plans, you have fewer ZeroPoint food options. That means you need to be constantly tracking everything you consume if it falls outside of the ZeroPoint category.
If you love to be held accountable for what you eat and are a snacker or overeater, then the Green Plan is your best choice.
The Blue Plan
For those of you who want more flexibility in what they eat, then the Blue Plan is a great option. With its list of over 200 ZeroPoint food options, you have more freedom to eat what you desire. The minimum SmartPoints you have each day are influenced by your height, weight, age, and gender.
If you don’t like feeling restricted with your food choices, while still having some degree of responsibility for your diet, then the Blue Plan is worth considering.
The Purple Plan
This plan offers you the widest choice of ZeroPoint foods, which means you don’t have to be so concerned about tracking everything you eat. Yet, in saying that, you start with a minimum of 16 daily SmartPoints.
It’s the best option for those who don’t want to keep account of all the things they consume. However, therein lies the danger. With a lower degree of accountability over your diet, you can end up overeating and take in excess calories.
How many points is an egg on the Green Plan?
If you love eggs, then you can rejoice! On the Green Plan, eggs have 0 points. Just be careful that you don’t add extra condiments onto the egg as this can push it from a zero point item to something you need to track the points value of.
What can you eat on the Green Plan?
The Green Plan allows you to have more freedom in what you eat. With the higher daily SmartPoints and lower number of ZeroPoints food, you have room to move with your diet. However, ensure that you track what you eat if it’s not on your ZeroPoints list.
What foods are free on the Green Plan?
We mentioned that fruit and vegetables are on the ZeroPoint list for the Green Plan. But let’s get more specific with what exactly is Zero point food.
You can have apples, squash, Fresh apricots, asparagus, bananas, beets, blueberries, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, fresh cranberries, eggplant, fresh figs, stir fry vegetables (without any condiments), kiwifruit, limes, lemons, mint, mushrooms, pears, plums, pumpkin, watermelon, zucchini.
Avoid food with starch, but if you do want some, then pay attention to their SmartPoint value.
A Green Plan shopping list
Now you have an idea of the Zero Point foods, you can go shopping and make more informed choices over what to buy. Here is a suggested shopping list:
- Bagels
- Tomatoes
- Orange Juice
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Skinless chicken breast
- Mixed vegetables
- Eggs
- Cream Cheese
- Potatoes
- Salmon fillets
- Pears
- Pistachio nuts, almonds, or cashews
- Lean steak
- Red and Yellow peppers
- Onions
- Carrots
- Lean Ground Beef
You can take advantage of the myWW+ app for meal suggestions and base your shopping list around your weekly meals. Don’t be tempted to go for sale items nor should you go shopping when you’re hungry!
Stick with your plan and be disciplined about your shopping habits and you will find that not only your bank account but also your waistline will look a lot healthier.
A Green Plan calculator
How are your SmartPoints calculated? Weight Watchers takes into consideration several factors such as:
- The fat content of a food item
- How many carbohydrates are contained within each item
- The sugar content
- How much protein is in the item
These are also used to distinguish zero-point foods from those that you need to keep track of. Additionally, as mentioned earlier, your age, weight, height, and gender also come contribute to calculating your points.
All that seems so scientific and you may be left wondering who you can calculate your Smartpoints. The good news is that you don’t have to as the myWW+ app does all that for you.
Also, HealthyWeightForum provides you with handy calculators that work out your SmartPoints and the point value of each food item
Flexibility and freedom
The Green Plan is all about allowing you to have the freedom to mix ZeroPoint food with the food that you still love without having to feel guilty. With the minimum 30 daily SmartPoints, you can mix and match your diet as long as you maintain your daily and weekly SmartPoints balance.
If you feel that this plan is a little too restrictive, after all, you have to keep account of the non-Zero Point foods that you consume, then you should think about going onto the Blue or Purple plan which provides a wider array of ZeroPoint food.