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.
My Approach to Meal Planning
Every time I get out of the meal planning habit I end up eating too much take-out, restaurant food, unhealthy snacks. It is amazing how crappy I feel and how quickly the pounds begin to creep back.
When I have a rough idea of what I’m planning to cook for dinner in the coming week I’m much less likely to succumb to the temptation of fast food or takeout.
That being said, my approach is a casual one. Meal planning can overwhelm me if I try to do too much. So I make it SUPER EASY. I keep a post-it note on the counter with a list of a few dinners I’m planning to make. That’s it.
We are a middle-aged couple so I am mostly cooking for just the two of us. We have a fairly active social life, which means our plans are always subject to change. (Read more about my thoughts on realistic meal planning for busy, unpredictable lives.)
Most recipes make more than we can eat, so we tend to have a ready supply of leftovers for lunch or dinner the next day. I enjoy finding creative ways to use and re-purpose leftovers.
I’m always asking myself, “How can I make this as easy as possible? For me meal planning works only when I keep it as simple as possible. When I have a ready supply of easy to prepare, good for me food in the fridge and pantry I’m set 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 features some of my easy summer favorites that require a minimal of cooking. Most will provide leftovers for additional quick and easy meals!
4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli
A quick and easy satisfying dinner, this slow cooker chicken alfredo is a winner whenever I make it. I’ll plan to serve it with a simple green salad or maybe just sliced tomatoes.
Skinny on 4-Ingredient Hawaiian Slow Cooker Kalua Pork and Cabbage
This recipe seems almost too simple – just pork shoulder, bacon, salt and cabbage – slow cooked for hours until fall-apart-tender. It’s supposed to taste just like the pork slow roasted underground all day in Hawaii. I have no idea how kalua pork is supposed to taste. But I can vouch that we all thought this slow cooker version was absolutely delicious. I’ll plan to serve this with rice or cauliflower rice and a vegetable. Then I’ll serve it another night as a filling for tacos or topping for a skinny burrito bowl.
Italian Sub Pasta Salad
This easy lightened up pasta salad provides all the flavors of an Italian sub with a lot less fat and fewer calories. Great for make ahead lunches or dinners. Perfect for a buffet, barbecue, picnic or potluck.
Skinny 2-Egg Crepe Style Omelette
A delicious nutritious option for breakfast, lunch or supper this simple omelet is thin like a crepe. Quick and easy to make, it’s bursting with flavor. Perfect for those looking to eat healthier, this skinny omelet is packed with protein and fresh ingredients. Made with a touch of olive oil, eggs, crumbled feta cheese, and juicy cherry tomatoes, it’s a delightful way to enjoy a wholesome, sensible meal without compromising on taste. I like to serve this for a casual supper with a simple green salad alongside.
Need More Vegetarian Choices? Click Here!
I hope this helps you with your own meal planning this week
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 (7/8 – 7/14)
WeightWatchers Weekly Dinner Meal Plan (7/1-7/7)
WeightWatchers Weekly Dinner Meal Plan (6/24-6/30)
WeightWatchers Weekly Dinner Meal Plan (6/17-6/23)
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