Fruits and Vegetables:
• How
many servings per day do we need? At least 5 for most people, 8 for nursing
moms and 9 if you weigh over 350 pounds
• How much is a serving? 1/2 cup for most fruits and veggies; 1 cup for leafy greens
• Does fruit or veggie juice count? No.
• Which veggies have PointsPlus values? Starchy ones, such as potatoes, peas and corn.
• Are all fruits and vegetables 0 PointsPlus values? No...there are 3 that have PointsPlus values, even in natural form: Avocados, plantains, and olives. Also, any dried or juiced fruits and vegetables have PointsPlus values, as do those with added sweeteners that have PointsPlus values.
• What about canned fruits and vegetables? If they're in their own juice and drained, they are 0 PointsPlus values. If they are in syrup, they have PointsPlus values.
• Is fresh better than canned or frozen? Not necessarily. Canned and frozen are processed very soon after being harvested, and retain much of their nutrients. Fresh vegetables that have been picked and sat out or shipped start to lose nutrient density over time. When buying canned or frozen, opt for ones with low sodium and no added sugars. Buy what works best for you—eating fruits and vegetables is what is important, whether it be canned, frozen, or fresh.
• What about coconut? A coconut is a drupe—a type of fruit that includes peaches and mangoes—and the part you eat is actually the seed. Yes, it does have PointsPlus values.
• Is there a limit to how many fruits or vegetables I can eat? Nope. It's not recommended to stuff yourself with any food, but Weight Watchers doesn't put a limit on this. When you're eating fresh vegetables, you're not eating something else, and for most people this is progress. Let your weight loss be your guide.
• How much is a serving? 1/2 cup for most fruits and veggies; 1 cup for leafy greens
• Does fruit or veggie juice count? No.
• Which veggies have PointsPlus values? Starchy ones, such as potatoes, peas and corn.
• Are all fruits and vegetables 0 PointsPlus values? No...there are 3 that have PointsPlus values, even in natural form: Avocados, plantains, and olives. Also, any dried or juiced fruits and vegetables have PointsPlus values, as do those with added sweeteners that have PointsPlus values.
• What about canned fruits and vegetables? If they're in their own juice and drained, they are 0 PointsPlus values. If they are in syrup, they have PointsPlus values.
• Is fresh better than canned or frozen? Not necessarily. Canned and frozen are processed very soon after being harvested, and retain much of their nutrients. Fresh vegetables that have been picked and sat out or shipped start to lose nutrient density over time. When buying canned or frozen, opt for ones with low sodium and no added sugars. Buy what works best for you—eating fruits and vegetables is what is important, whether it be canned, frozen, or fresh.
• What about coconut? A coconut is a drupe—a type of fruit that includes peaches and mangoes—and the part you eat is actually the seed. Yes, it does have PointsPlus values.
• Is there a limit to how many fruits or vegetables I can eat? Nope. It's not recommended to stuff yourself with any food, but Weight Watchers doesn't put a limit on this. When you're eating fresh vegetables, you're not eating something else, and for most people this is progress. Let your weight loss be your guide.
