Weight Watchers Diet Review

Weight Watchers, founded in the 1960s by Jean Nidetch, is a company offering various dieting products and services to assist weight loss. It started as a discussion group for how to best lose weight. It now operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under the name "Weight Watchers" translated into the local language. Its most prominent celebrity endorser is Sarah, Duchess of York.

Varying on location, Weight Watchers generally offers two distinct programs:

• The POINTS program
• The Core program

The programs are supplemented by optional support groups which meet regularly and provide ground assistance to those trying to meet weight-loss goals.
In the UK, Weight Watchers advertises under the slogan "where no food is a sin" in reference to its chief competitor Slimming World's system of giving some food "sin" values.

From 1978 until 1999, the Weight Watchers company was owned by the H. J. Heinz Company, which continues to produce packaged foods bearing the Weight Watchers brand name. Weight Watchers was acquired in a leveraged buyout in 1999 and went public in 2001.

POINTS System
The POINTS system is based on allocating servings of food a specific number of points. A program participant is allowed to eat food that amounts to a certain number of points per week. The number of permitted points for an individual is calculated based on the individual's weight goals, and the level of physical acitivity of the participant.

A Taste of Weight Watchers Recipes

Weight Watchers recipes, using real everyday foods you can find anywhere, are popular both for that reason and the fact that also taste good! These offerings come from About.com:

Chicken Rice Casserole with Mozzarella

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 clove minced garlic
1-1/2 medium red bell peppers, diced
1 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 cup low-salt chicken broth
1-1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cups cooked brown or white rice
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons non-fat sour cream
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
8 ounces skinless, diced cooked chicken or smoked turkey
3 ounces part skim milk mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 cup chopped parsley

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 1-1/2 quart casserole with nonstick cooking spray.

In a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, warm the oil until hot but not smoking. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring, until the onion begins to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the bell peppers, corn 1/4 cup of the broth, the thyme and black pepper, and continue cooking until the bell pepper begins to soften, 3 to 5 minutes.

Stir in the remaining 3/4 cup broth, the rice, sour cream, and mustard. Add the chicken, remove from the heat, and stir until well combined. Stir in one-third of the mozzarella and the parsley.

Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole. Spread the mixture evenly. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese has melted.

Microwave Shortcuts:

In a 2-quart microwave safe casserole, combine the oil, onion, garlic and bell peppers. Cover and cook at high for 4 minutes, or until the peppers and onion begin to soften. Stir in the corn, 1/2 cup of the broth, the thyme, black pepper, rice, sour cream, mustard, and chicken. Stir in one-third of the mozzarella and the parsley. Re-cover and cook at high for 7 minutes, stirring once. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese and cook at high for 3 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the casserole is heated through.

Yield: 4 servings

Serving Suggestion: Slice tomatoes and sprinkle them liberally with fresh basil. For dessert, serve crisp almond biscotti with freshly brewed coffee.
Each serving provides: 1/2 fat, 3 proteins, 1/2 vegetable (adjusted to new program), 1-1/2 breads, 20 optional calories.

Nutrition Information:

Values are approximate per serving: 378 calories, 28 g protein, 12 g fat, 39 g carbohydrate, 63 mg cholesterol, 557 mg sodium.