How many fruits and veggies?

  • Are there written guidelines on how many fruits, veggies, dairy, etc that we should have every day? Someone said that you can eat your day in junk, as there are no limits on what kinds of food to eat, but I've also heard that there is a handout given at the meetings explaining how many servings are needed. It was approx 5 servings of fruit/vegetable, 2 servings of dairy, 3 servings for teens and over 55, etc.

    Does anybody know what I am talking about? I'm looking all over WW Online and I cannot find any guidelines whatsoever. I'm looking for Flex in particular, but any guidelines will be helpful.

    Thank you!
  • Jennifer, WW recommends 5 servings of fruit/vegetables per day, you've got the dairy right too. Also recommended are 2 tbsp of healthy oil such as olive, and 6 glasses of water per day (8oz each glass).

    Some people do use their points on "junk" but I wouldn't do that, it's not very nutrionally sound. The best thing to do is eat fresh food, limit fast food and processed foods and remember that so called "diet treats" that are supposedly low-fat may be just as bad for you because of the sugar content. Read your labels and take your points finder to the grocery store with you
  • I will second that Jennifer! The first time I was on WW I DID eat my day in junk, and ofcourse did not lose....but this time I make an effort to get my fruits/veggies and milk in....and I am doing very well. And ofcourse feel so much better!
  • Technically you could eat all in junk and still lose but you wouldn't be very healthy. There are 8 Healthy Guidelines to follow for weight loss/good health on page 34 of your Week One booklet if you do at-home or meetings and if you are strictly online it can be found utilizing the following instructions:

    read 8 Great Health Guidelines. After you log in, it can be found in the Select a Resource dropdown menu located in the Shortcuts toolbar on the left hand side of the page. Click on Weight Loss Topics of the Week in the My Plan section of the dropdown menu. On the next page you will see the View Topics Archive link in the box on the upper right side of the page. Click the link to be brought to the topics archive. 8 Great Health Guidelines is the first first link on the archive list.

    But in general they area:

    1. 5 servings of fruits and veggies each day
    2. choose whole grain foods when possible
    3. 2 servings of milk unless a teen or over 50 when it should be 3 servings (teens get 2 points more a day in TPs to do this)
    4. 2 healthy oils a day
    5. Get in enough protein
    6. limit sugar and alcohol
    7. 6 glasses of water minimum
    8. multivitamin
  • Jennifer - go to www.weightwatchers.com and click on the scientific tab and you will find it and and a wealth of info on the scientifc reasons behind ww. this is a new feature that was added last January.
  • Thank you everybody!!
  • One more note on the subject:
    1/2 cup veggies = 1 serving
    leafy veggies 1 cup= 1 serving


    Also one fruit.so if it is a large apple or orange in can be counted as 2 fruits!(and of course double the points! )

    We often get ask the question if we can eat too many veggies on the WW plan.especially the 0 point veggies. I usually reply that I have never had ANYONE JOIN WWers because they ate too many veggies!

    Hope this helps!
  • P.S. What I meant was on the subject of fruit.......................if it is a larger size.it can be counted as 2 servings!
  • Hi Cin!! So nice to see you!!