Hi - I called ww with some questions because I find core extremely confusing and they were rude and unhelpful - all they could say was if it is not specifically on the list it is not core. They couldn't help with my pasta question, they couldn't tell me if a jar of pasta I found that was made with all core ingredients with no sugar or salt added was core. It was extremely annoying - it was alike a mantra - if it's not on the list it isn't core over and over again - and they have no idea what makes something core or not - I think weight watchers should have done a lot more work before they rolled this program out - they seem to caught with their pants down!

I personally am not on the ww diet, but I do work in a call center, and I can tell you that what you experience probably should not reflect the way that you view weight watchers. I imagine somebody having a very bad day who is irritated with their job. Maybe you could call back and ask to speak with a supervisor of the call center. No matter what aspect of customer service you work in, you should never treat your customers like that. As a customer, I say you stand up for yourself and speak with a supervisor. That way noone out there will get discouraged by speaking with the same person!!

I agree with Badge...it is very confusing and the person representing WW should have been able to asnswer your question or offer to get back to you with an educated answer. I think the program needs some more research...like why is chili considered 8 points if all the ingredients that you make it with are CORE foods? They should specify this, because some people think outside the box! Some people may just subtract 8 points, when they wouldn't have to use all eight of their points-depending on how the chili is made! I do think the CORE plan is do-able, but it needs better specifications and more staff education!

Samantha: I also have at one point worked in a call center and I actually did ask to speak with a supervisors and unfortunately got the exact same response and answers. I don't think they have any other information. It was sad really.

Unless the pasta is whole wheat it is not Core.

Core is more processed, less convenience foods. It really isn't that hard.

There is soo much that everyone thinks is confusing but we are making it that way. It really is a simple program. They want you to eat SIMPLE.

One of the things that is confusing is recipes. If you make a recipe and it makes something that is not a Core Food it is not Core even if you use all core ingredients. For example a cornbread recipe that is floating around. W/W states bread is NOT Core so this is not a core food even though every ingredient is Core in the recipe however I have a recipe that is a brown rice recipe and it uses all core ingredients that doesn't change what the out come of the food is so it is Core.

I think most pasta sauces that don't have added oils or sugars are Core (don't quote me but I haven't looked).

Don't make it harder than it is. It was researched and worked on for 1 1/2 years and proven (just like the points program).

Idealperson, what chili recipe?

I really don't have a recipe, but I use lean beef-drained of course of all visible fat, then I add kidney beans, onions and no-sugar added tomato sauce, cut up tomatoes, chili powder, and some hot sauce. They are all core foods individually, so this should be considered core, right?

Idealperson:
Yes - your recipe would be core. The Week 4 literature includes information on combining core foods in recipes to make core meals. To me it is crystal clear that this is consistent with the Plan as documented.

Ideal, That is what I would say too. It is just like a soup and would be Core (or at least the way I interpret the 'recipe' rules.

Thanks for the clarification-I have a ton of onions and tomatoes in my garden, so I plan on making alot of this and freezing it for winter.

No problem. LOL! Did you just add that picture or is my computer just slow?

It sounds to me like nonesense - If you have a brown 'recipe' using core ingredients and call it something other than brown rice it is no longer core but if you call it brown rice it is? Give me a break! It sounds to me like they made stuff up which is okay but that's what they should say. All 94% ff popcorn is core - oh unless it's kettle corn and that's because you might eat too much - but you won't eat too much butter flavored popcorn - this is not scientific - I'm not saying it won't work or that it's bad - it's just made up -

No where did I nor W/W say this. If it doesn't change the component. For example brown rice and veggies and egg and olive is Brown Fried Rice and is core. But taking oatmeal, oil, water and mixing it into a batter to make a pancake is not because pancakes are not a Core Food or taking cornmeal, oil, water and (can't remember the other ingredient but it is a core thing) and making a bread is not a Core because bread is not a Core Food. Not hard or nonsense at all.

It is not just that you have the potention to over eat but the sweetener (Splenda) can trigger an over eating (this is proven scientific research). That is why the Kettle Corn isn't considered Core (at this point) but is being evaluated again. What is a trigger for some may not be a trigger for others.

You sound really down on the program. It is a simple program (and while it isn't for me -- too much dining out and need to be satisified wtih breads) and many of us are over thinking it and making it harder than it is. W/W does things for a reason based on research and trials...we have to trust them.

Can you use splenda on the core program?

yes it is a Core food.

I have canned up about 12 pts of sauce so far this year.. I'm doing another 12 pts on saturday...

Oh and salsa too.... My salsa is integral to our turkey chili recipe (core).

lala