Did you know that Weight Watchers has been around since the 1960’s? This weight loss plan really took off in the 1970’s, and there it was a lot more restrictive than the points system Weight Watchers uses now.
But, seeing some of the old diet tips, the plan itself, and some of the recipes probably brings back old memories (both good and bad), and just because the diet is different now, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t some good parts of the older plan, and some great recipes. Let’s take a look at how the basic program worked in the 1970’s, and some of the recipes that dieters were allowed to make and eat.
The Basics
In order to be successful with this, or any diet, it was important to follow the program as it was written out by Weight Watchers. For instance, you could only eat the foods that were available on the menu plan, in the amounts and weights that were specified. You could combine a lot of the foods, as long as all ingredients were counted in each dish. It was important to keep a daily food record. Here are a few of the rules for Weight Watchers diets back in the 70’s.
No Dietetic Products
Dietetic products were not allowed on the Weight Watchers diet, with the exceptions of unsweetened, carbonated beverages, artificial sweeteners, and imitation or diet margarines.
Condiments and Seasonings
Many condiments and seasonings could be used as desired. This included many herbs and spices, as well as some beverages and prepared sauces.
Vegetables
There were some vegetables you could have in unlimited amounts, including capers, celery, gherkins, lettuce, parsley, and radishes. Other vegetables, such as asparagus, bean sprouts, beet greens, tomatoes, kale, and cucumbers were allowed in limited amounts.
Fruits
Users of the early Weight Watchers diet were allowed to have certain amounts of fruit, and were encouraged to have one fruit or juice for breakfast each day. Fruits were divided into three groups, one fruit daily (cantaloupe, tangerine, grapefruit, etc.), multiple fruits daily (apricots, Mandarin oranges, pineapple, etc.), and once weekly (grapes, bananas, cherries, etc.). They could be fresh, frozen, and canned (unsweetened).
Fish, Meat, Poultry, and Alternatives
These foods were divided into two categories, B, and C. B group foods could be eaten exactly three times each week, for either lunch or dinner. Group C foods were what were considered the must-have foods each week.
Bread
Many diets don’t include bread, but the old Weight Watchers diet did. Users could have bread with meals only, as listed on the Menu Plan. Bread products could be fresh, pre-sliced, packaged, and enriched, 100 percent whole wheat, or enriched rolls. Each serving was to weigh one ounce.
Eggs and Cheese
You could have four eggs per week on this diet plan, for morning and noon meals. They could be hard boiled, poached, or scrambled (with no fat). Some cheese and cheese products were allowed, such as cottage cheese made with skimmed milk, and no more than four ounces of hard cheese each week.
Milk
You could have skimmed milk, evaporated skimmed milk, or buttermilk. If products were labeled as “skimmed milk products,” they were not allowed on the Weight Watchers diet.
1970’s Weight Watchers Recipes
Now it’s time to check out some of the interesting recipe ideas Weight Watchers had for dieters in the 1970’s. Some of them don’t sound half bad, while others look like they were a great incentive to limit one’s diet.
Molded Asparagus Salad
This was an easy recipe for a molded salad, something that was quite popular back in the 70’s. For this salad, you were required to sprinkle gelatin over a half a cup of tomato juice in a saucepan, stirring slowly until the gelatin powder dissolved. Then, it instructed users to add more tomato juice, vinegar, salt, hot sauce, and some sweetener, pour into a mold, and chill until the mixture had a syrupy texture. Finally, the asparagus was added.
Frankfurter Special
This was a mix of hotdogs or frankfurters, pineapple, onions, and carrots. It might sound weird to some, but many found it quite tasty. For those who wanted to serve this meal with a bit of flair, the frankfurters could be served on the pineapple core.
Broiled Apple Burgers
A lot of Weight Watchers burgers weren’t made from beef, but used mackerel, frankfurters, or even gelatin instead. These burgers were actually made from beef, and they sound quite tasty. The meat was broiled on a rack, and then served with apples. For a bit of a twist, you could cook the apple on the grill as well.
Peach Melba
This dish was and still is quite popular, both with dieters and non-dieters. It was made with delicious peaches, and gelatin balls that looked like cherries, but were actually made with gelatin and diet soda.
Stuffed Lettuce Wedges
Here is another quick and easy Weight Watchers recipe from the 1970’s that is totally diet friendly for just about any diet. It was simply lettuce leaves stuffed with cottage cheese and seasoned with paprika, with some radishes on the side.
Inspiration Soup
Here is a strange name for a soup that doesn’t sound very inspiring. This watery soup is made with tomatoes, beansprouts, green beans, and asparagus. It is loaded with healthy ingredients though, and is an excellent food for dieters.
Perfect Pizza Lunch
If you were on the 1970’s Weight Watchers diet and you wanted pizza, you could have a version that was simple to make and didn’t cost much. Of course, it wasn’t exactly the best pizza substitute, but if you were craving tomato sauce and cheese, it was great. All you had to do was put sauce and mozzarella cheese on a slice of bread and place it under the broiler until the cheese melted.
Chilled Celery Log
This is a treat that you probably still see at family gatherings, baby and wedding showers, etc. It is quick and easy to make, and if you like cauliflower, quite tasty. To make this dish, simply mash cauliflower and stir in a bit of green pepper. Spread mixture into celery sticks and let chill for 45 minutes before serving.
Debbie Williams
I remember most of these recipes my mom did WW in the 70's. There is one re,cope that she made for apple bread muffins that I've never been able to find. I buy every WW cook book I can get my hands on but never find that recipe. Do you have that recipe and if so would you share.
Suzanne Johnson
Nope but I’m in the same boat. Used to do gelatin in blender with ice cubes…good but that’s all I remember
Ken
I have been looking for a recipe with pumpkin purée and know gelatin, was a vegetable and so easy to make
Blake Williams
I have been looking for a recipe with pumpkin purée and crushed pineapple made in 9x13 pan
Nancy Scholze
Looking for a 1980s recipe of ww yogurt pie the recipe shown is not the same can anyone remember this pie. Also there was a vegetable salad & the dressing was made with yogurt and I don't recall the other ingredients it was delicious
Gladys
I remember putting Knox gelatin mixed with boiling water, cocoa, sweet n low & maybe 1/2 cup skim milk in a blender (or maybe not...) But it was something close to this. Surprised I don't remember the recipe 100%~had it every night!
Brenda Keith
Looking for recipe for Cabbage /Beef using V8 juice dried red and green peppers and onion. Can you help me on how to find it? Thank you Brenda Keith
Eileen
I have an old one for French Apple Bread, do you think that’s the same as what you’re looking for? If you’d like this recipe, you can email me, and I’d be happy to send it to you.
Renae Frame
Oh I’d love that recipe! Could you email it to me ? I can’t remember all of it but sure remember my mom making it! Thanks
Helen S.
I am looking for the Weight Watcher Broccoli Rice Quiche. Would you happen to know it .
Brenda
I am looking for the tuna bake recipe. I remember some of the ingredients but not the measurements. It had... tuna, I slice of crumbled bread, sage, chicken boullion, water.... you mixed snd baked it.
TIA
Louise
I’m looking for that recipe too
Bethany
That sounds like Tuna Sage Dressing. It had tuna, a slice of bread torn into small chunks, finely diced celery, finely diced onion, sage, and I could swear it was moistened with milk. I just remember it was something I liked! Also, we had to eat liver once a week and I'd just about gag on it! I was 15 in 1970, when my Mom & I joined. Hope that helps!
Marion Parker
I too am looking for the tuna sage dressing recipe. I ate it every day for lunch.
Winifred
I'm looking for a recipe from 1970,it was a sandwich spread made with surejell ,vinegar, sugar and dill,hoping someone has this recipe,my dad would make it and put in our tuna,I loved it!!!! Thank you!!!!
Elaine G Glendening
I'm looking for the Weight watchers vegetable soup recipe from the 80's that was printed in a news letter. It was 'free' and had cauliflower, zucchini, canned tomatoes, carrots, some herbs and spices and some other vegetables I can't remember. No green beans, peas or corn. I can't find it on the internet. Thanks for your help. Yours truly Elaine
Sandra
https://www.food.com/recipe/ww-0-point-weight-watchers-cabbage-soup-128956
I remember that you could add any "free" vegetables you desired.
Susan Sniffen
Elaine, I remember one that had shredded cabbage, zucchini, tomato juice,bean sprouts.celery, dried onion flakes( fresh onion was a limited vegetable as were regular green beans) dried oregano, black pepper.Tomato juice was salt free. I think you “sautéd the celery and cabbage in low sodium chicken broth (at that time it was a Boullion cube and water. Just enough so the vegetables would steam. Then add everything else, bring to a boil , simmer for about an hour. Make sure dried onion was rehydrated. Serve. This was free. You could eat as much as you wanted at anytime. You could also add more salt free chicken broth. Canned and fresh tomatoes were limited, so only the salt free tomato juice and it was 12 ounces per day. I don’t have the amounts, but most everything in this soup was unlimited so, you can add as much or little as you like. Also I guess you could use cauliflower in place
Of the cabbage. I do remember a “Potato Cheese” soup that was made with cauliflower. These recipes were written on a blackboard in our WW classroom when we entered. You could write them down. The first Weight Watchers Program Cookbook didn’t get published until the seventies. I first joined in the late sixties.
Marion Parker
I would love the www vegetable soup recipe
Dana Garner
looking for WW soup using chicken broth zuccini, carrot, onion, garlic, parsley, tomato & seasoning.
Got it out of cook book when I was a member in 70's no cabbage was in it. very tasty
Ruth M Catron
Looking gor the old bread pudding recipe, my mom made it for us for breakfast. I loved it!
Wendy
Ruth, I loved that bread pudding. I made it quite often. This is what I remember/did today:
1 egg
1 pkg sweetener
(2) Low cal sliced bread 40 cal or 45 cal.
Milk 1% or skim( today I used non fat yogurt-3 Tbsp)
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 or1/2 tsp cinnamon (your choice)
Baked at 400 for 14mins.
Turned out great.
Dar
I'm looking for a WW chicken recipe that my mother used to make when I was a teenager in the late 60's and 70's. Chicken breasts in a casserole dish, sprinkled with dehydrated onions and with either tomato juice or V8 juice, and Worcestershire sauce poured over the chicken. Then baked in the oven. It was delicious! Thanks for your help.
Loretta
Looking for the diet.would like to find it. Liked the way it was designed. Was a good way to lose weight. Do not like the new diets. Spend to much money on them and to choices don't need the stress
Rebecca Taylor
Loretta, if you can locate the Weight Watchers book titled "Weight Watchers Quick Start Plus Program Cookbook" written by Jean Nidetch the Exchange Program is in there. I was fortunate to find the book at a thrift store and they had all their books, at the time, were free. I had regretted getting rid of the literature that I had on the Exchange Program back in the 1980's and had been looking for a long time for it.
Good luck in your search.
Pat
Looking for a fish recipe. It used frozen cod that came in a rectangular cardboard with paper wrapped around it. You would boil 2T of salt and 2T of vinegar that you brought to a boil and take it off the heat. Put the fish in and cover. Let it stand for w0 mins. This is how I remember it. I can’t find fish packaged like that anymore and not sure if my directions are correct. It tasted just like lobster. Then you could make a ketchup and horseradish type sauce.
Hope somebody has all of the correct info. Thanks, Pat.
Merrry
I’m looking for a Weight Watchers recipe for Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
Marion Parker
I would also like the
chicken broccoli stir fry recipe
Chris Majerski
I am looking for an old Weight Watcher quiche recipe, broccoli, cheddar cheese, a small can of mushrooms, made wi5 a rice crust.
Sheri
My grandmother used to make WW homemade Catsup. I found the following online, but does anyone have a WW cookbook from the 60s/70s with Catsup recipe in it? I'm not sure this one is it:
2 cans unsweetened tomato paste
2 T onion flakes
½ t sweet and low
½ c vinegar
¼ t cinnamon
1 tsp celery seed
Salt to taste
Mix and simmer for 3 minutes.
Pat Schmidt
I would drop off my kids at school and pop over to a WW friend's house. She would make a little sandwich with green chilies and cheese........I believe it was a slice of bread sliced so you had two slices, an ounce of cheddar and a green chili. I can't remenber how she cooked it but it's been since the early 70's and I can't get it out of my mind. Anybody remember?
Barbara Burton
I’m looking for the milkshake recipe
Therese Shaffer
I'm looking for a recipe from the late 1960s-early 1970s for chicken, bean sprouts & vinegar. I can't find it anywhere.
Elaine Ryan
I found the recipe for WW milk shakes made with gelatin.
1/3 cup dry powered milk. ]
1/3 water
1 pk. sweetner (2-3 pks with cocoa powder)
flavoring (vanilla, mint, etc. Or fruit Or 2 tsp dry cocoa)
1 T Know unflavored gelatin
7-12 crushed ice cubes
Thoroughly blend first seven ingredients in blender. Add ice and blend on liquefy until smoothe. Makes 1-2 cups.
On the current program it is 2 points.