Nutrition for Weight Loss Choosing Healthier Foods How to Snack Smart on Weight Watcher's Beyond the Scale By Jennifer R. Scott Jennifer R. Scott is a weight loss writer. She designed her own successful weight loss plan, which helped her safely lose 50 pounds in about a year. Learn about our editorial process Jennifer R. Scott Updated on September 17, 2020 Print George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images If you are following Weight Watchers, you know that monitoring calories are no longer a part of the process. Instead, you count Points. Each day, you have an allotted number of Points based on your gender, age, height, exercise level, and weight goal. Each week you have "Flex Points" that you can use in any way you choose. Exercise enough, and you earn more Points for food. If you're losing weight, you have probably already realized that success comes down to finding foods that you can fit into your daily Points budget while still allowing yourself the occasional indulgence. Things have gotten even tougher (for some folks) with the "Beyond the Scale" points system, which requires careful attention to every bite you eat. What Makes Weight Watchers Challenging Many Weight Watchers members have worked hard to master the "Points" and "Points Plus" systems. They have their go-to favorites for meals, snacks, and treats—and they know exactly how many points they have available at the end of the day. WW, formerly called Weight Watchers, has updated their healthy eating programs throughout the years. This particular version of the points system is no longer officially in use, but is still used by many fans of the program. The new system has kept some point counts the same, and even lowers points for certain types of foods (lean protein, for example). But other, ordinary foods that were once an "affordable" treat are now almost impossible to fit in—even every once and a while. Here's how Weight Watchers describes the gist of the new "Beyond the Scale" approach: Calories set the baseline for how many SmartPoints food is worth.We then factor in sugar and saturated fat (which raise the SmartPoints value).We also look at protein (which helps lower it).The goal: You'll start eating more fruits, veggies, and lean protein and less sugar and unhealthy fat. This all sounds great until you realize that a scoop of ice cream, a cup of rice, or a glass of wine can send your points count right through the roof! What to Eat on Weight Watchers Using Low Points Snacks to Manage Your Hunger One key strategy for weight loss is hunger management. That's where snacks come in. If you wait until you're starving to eat, there's a good chance you'll overeat; if you snack mindfully between meals, though, you may never feel serious hunger pangs. Whether you are looking for something sweet, crunchy or salty, you'll find a tasty treat here. The best part? These snacks are all worth 4 points or less. 4 Points Chex Mix,Traditional (1/2 c.)Planter's cocktail peanuts (30)Planter's dry roasted peanuts (35)Cheerios Multi-Grain Cereal (1 cup)Post Honey Bunches of Oats with Almonds Cereal (3/4 c.)Quest bars (most varieties) 3 Points Apple slices with 1 tablespoon peanut butterTwo stalks of celery with 1 tablespoon peanut butterBroth-based vegetable soup (1 cup)Enlightened brand ice cream bars (1 serving) 2 Points Peanut butter banana roll-upsEnlightened brand chips (1 serving)Egg (1)Light microwaved popcorn (3 cups) 1 Point Popcorn cake (1)Hard candy (1)Puffed wheat cereal (1 c.)Gingersnap cookie(one small)Fat-free hot dog (1) 0 Point One of the best features of the Weight Watchers program is its huge array of zero point options. With a few exceptions, every fruit and vegetable you eat is a zero point treat. That means that for zero points you can have an apple, a banana, a cup of grapes, a cup of strawberries, or a whole plate of crudites. Add a tablespoon of dip, and your hunger is history. It's very important, though, to remember the rule of moderation: a cup of cherries may be zero points, but a pound of cherries is a whole lot of calories. Is Weight Watchers Right For You? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to lose weight? Our nutrition guide can help you get on the right track. Sign up and get it free! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit