Fridays, I send out an email outlining my dinner plans for the upcoming week that are designed to work with Weight Watchers. I also publish them on my blog. This practice helps me stay on track with my meal choices and motivates me to make healthier food decisions.
By sharing my weekly dinner plans, I aim to offer a handy resource for anyone seeking meal planning ideas or looking to add variety to their diet. For even more inspiration, check out the “101 Meal Prep Ideas from Successful Weight Watchers” guide—it’s packed with creative tips to keep your meals fresh and exciting!
My Approach to Meal Planning
Every time I fall out of the meal planning habit , I find myself relying on too much takeout, restaurant food, and unhealthy snacks. It’s shocking how quickly the pounds creep back—and how lousy I feel.
When I have even a rough idea of what I’m cooking for dinner in the coming week, I’m far less tempted by fast food or takeout. But my approach to meal planning is intentionally simple. Trying to do too much overwhelms me, so I keep it SUPER EASY: just a post-it note on the counter with a few dinners I plan to make. That’s it.
Since it’s just the two of us—myself and my husband—we often have leftovers. This means plenty of ready-made lunches or dinners for the next day. I enjoy finding creative ways to repurpose leftovers into something fresh and tasty.
Our social life is fairly active, and plans can change on a dime. That’s why flexibility is key for me. (You can read more about my approach to realistic meal planning for unpredictable schedules.)
Ultimately, I’m always asking myself, “How can I make this as easy as possible?” For me, meal planning only works when it’s simple. As long as I have a stash of easy-to-prepare, healthy foods in the fridge and pantry, I know I’m setting myself up for success.
What Do I Eat for Breakfast on Weight Watchers?
Most days my breakfast is something quick like an english muffin with almond butter, avocado toast, cottage cheese with fruit, eggs, yogurt with fruit, oatmeal or a smoothie, depending on my mood and the season.
What Do I Eat for Lunch on Weight Watchers?
Lunch is usually leftovers or some combination of soup / sandwich / salad. This formula is a proven winner for me. I never fall into the temptation of takeout when I have a jar of soup, bowl of hard boiled eggs, container or leftovers and/or salad fixings staring back at me when I open the fridge!
This Week’s WW Dinner Suggestions with Points
This week’s meal plan includes a couple of comforting favorites that make plenty of leftovers for future meals, a quick single-serve soup made in the microwave, and breakfast for dinner.
WW Turkey Meat Loaf with Quinoa & Zucchini – I love meat loaf as evidenced by all the WW friendly meat loaf recipes you’ll find here on Simple Nourished Living. Made with quinoa, instead of bread crumbs, this one is gluten-free. Shredded zucchini adds moisture and flecks of color. It’s a great alternative to meatloaf made with beef. I’ll plan to serve it with sheet pan roasted vegetables or rosemary roasted potatoes and peas.
Leftovers can be used all kinds or ways:
Another Meal – This time with rice & beans and corn &/or zucchini
Meatloaf Sandwiches – Slice the meatloaf and layer it between whole-grain or sourdough bread with lettuce, tomato, and your favorite condiments like mustard, mayo, or even cranberry sauce for a turkey twist.
Meatloaf Hash – Dice the leftover meatloaf and sauté it with cubed sweet potatoes, onions, and bell peppers. Top with a fried or poached egg for a hearty breakfast or brunch.
Meatloaf Tacos or Wraps – Crumble or slice the meatloaf and use it as a filling for tacos or wraps. Add lettuce, salsa, avocado, and a dollop of Greek yogurt for a fresh twist.
Meatloaf Soup – Dice the meatloaf and add it to a vegetable soup base with broth, diced tomatoes, zucchini, and a handful of cooked quinoa for a light and comforting soup.
Meatloaf Fried Rice – Crumble the meatloaf and toss it with cooked rice, scrambled eggs, frozen vegetables, and soy sauce for a quick and satisfying fried rice dish. You can even make this in the slow cooker. Place everything in the crockpot, stir it around, and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours, or on LOW for 3-4. This doesn’t take a long time since you are only warming everything up and cooking the egg.
2-Ingredient Creamy CrockPot Chicken – As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate recipes that are simple and require minimal ingredients. This Crock Pot Chicken with Cream of Chicken Soup is a perfect example. By combining boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts) with 98% fat-free cream of chicken soup, I’ve discovered a way to create a flavorful, satisfying meal that’s ideal for busy weeknights.
The best part? The slow cooker does all the work, making it incredibly easy to enjoy a wholesome, delicious dinner. Whether you’re watching your calories and WW Points or just looking for a straightforward meal, I’m confident this recipe will quickly become a favorite in your kitchen, just like it has in mine! I’ll plan to serve it with low fat mashed potatoes and slow cooker roasted broccoli.
These leftovers too are very versatile. Here are some ways you can use them:
Chicken & Quinoa Microwave Soup – A quick and easy soup featured below.
Open-Faced Chicken Sandwich – Serve the chicken and sauce over toasted bread or a light English muffin. Add some steamed broccoli or spinach on the side for a quick, satisfying meal.
Chicken & Veggie Bowls – Serve the shredded chicken over a bed of cooked rice or cauliflower rice with steamed or roasted vegetables. Drizzle with the creamy sauce as a topping.
Chicken Topped Baked Potatoes – Split a cooked baked potato and smoosh it open. Top with the creamy chicken mixture and a sprinkle of cheese if desired.
Creamy Chicken Pasta – Toss the chicken and sauce with cooked pasta, like penne or spaghetti. Add a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh herbs for a comforting dish. Serve with steamed green beans or a salad alongside.
Chicken & Quinoa Soup Mug – Perfect for a chilly day, this 5-ingredient chicken soup can be ready in about 15 minutes using common ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and refrigerator. I’ll use some of the leftover 2-Ingredient Creamy Chicken to make this quick & easy satisfying soup.
Huevos Rancheros Phot Credit: Betty Crocker
Breakfast for Dinner – Easy Skinny Huevos Rancheros – Spread warm corn tortillas with refried beans with eggs (scrambled, fried, poached), a sprinkle of low fat cheese, dollop of salsa and sliced avocado. I’ll use this Huevos Rancheros Recipe from Betty Crocker as a rough guide.
A note about WW Points
If you’re following Weight Watchers, all the recipes here on Simple Nourished Living have been updated for the new WW program, with points displayed in the recipe card. The Check the WW Points link in the recipe card takes you to the Weight Watchers App where you can edit it using the WW recipe builder or add it to your day.
(Must be logged into WW account on a mobile device, such as smartphone or tablet).
Tired of trying to decide what to cook?
If you are struggling with meal planning here are a couple meal planning resources to help:
My Month of Meal Month of Meal Plans eBook
My WW friend Alisha’s 12-Week eCookbook and Meal Planner and Table for Two Meal Planner and eCookbook
Customer Testimonials
I can’t tell you how thrilled we were with your menu posted this week! We are on vacation and in a condo for five weeks. Keeping meals simple. I made both the chicken broccoli pie and the broccoli cheese soup for the first time this week. Both were a big hit. Then last night we had your Caribbean Jerk Chicken which is a definite favorite. Made your lasagna soup last week!!! Yum!
I am so thankful I found your website and continue to try new things. I started WW March 2020 (online only) and have lost almost 30 pounds and am at my goal! Slow and steady wins the race!!! (Just like the tortoise and the hare).
Thank you for all your encouraging emails and wonderful recipes. We’ve been married almost 47 years. When I first found ‘my friend Martha’ as all my friends know you by, my husband said ‘you’ve always been a good cook but we never tried so many different things!’ He loves your recipes also!!!
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!!!!! ~ Joyce
I bought the Table for Two eCookbook and I love it! It saved me from giving up on my weight loss journey. The meals are delicious and so easy to cook. Having a weekly grocery list, recipes and instructions with pictures readily accessible has taken so much stress off of me in meal planning. I was tired of cooking recipes that had multiple servings and eating the left overs several times during the week. My husband loves the Table for Two recipes and he doesn’t even need to lose weight! I have recommended your site to several friends on the same journey and they love your recipes too. Thank you for all your hard work in making meal planning so easy! ~ Barbara
Hi Martha – I cannot begin to thank you enough for my month of meals. We (my husband and I) have only had the first week, but WOW, what great meals! I can’t wait for the second week. You have a customer for life! ~ Sharon S.
I bought the 12 Week eCookbook and Meal Planner by Alisha Hughes from Meal Planning Mommies. It is great 12 weeks with a shopping list which is wonderful. I just make a copy of the list and go shopping for the week. ~ Roberta R.
More Weight Watchers Weekly Meal Plans
Weight Watchers Weekly Dinner Meal Plan (12/16 – 12/22)
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Weight Watchers Weekly Dinner Meal Plan (12/2 – 12/8)
Weight Watchers Weekly Dinner Meal Plan (11/25 – 12/1)
Weight Watchers Weekly Dinner Meal Plan (11/18 – 11/24)
Weight Watchers Weekly Dinner Meal Plan (11/11 – 11/17)
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A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the WeightWatchers Program
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