Weight Watcher: Nightmares Past

Weight Watchers has been a big part of my life for almost a year now. I love the flexibility of the program and the ability to pretty much eat whatever tickles my fancy, or at least a low fat version of it. I blissfully lived my life believing this was how it always was. Boy, was I wrong. Very, very wrong.

Things have changed. Thankfully. Here's a brief overview of the rules then and now.

"New" Rules - most fruits and vegetables are zero points and you can eat as much as you want. All other food is assigned a point value (based on fat, carbs, fiber and protein). Participants are given a daily points allowance, based on weight. It is all happiness and rainbows. 

"Old" Rules - Too weird and lengthy to list completely. Suffice to say that bananas, grapes and cherries were only allowed once a week. Because they are SO evil, you must give up all other fruit the day of consumption. Liver MUST be consumed once a week, Never have meat for breakfast. Fish must be consumed five times a week. The insanity continues...Tuna and gelatin were huge in the day. And, so they were with Weight Watchers. Even in the same recipe (*shudder*).

While searching for some great recipes to try, I came across something both funny and scary at the same time. 1972: The Retro WW Experiment actually tries to follow the 1972 WW program. Mimi prepares and attempts to eat, the food that Weight Watchers created in 1972, not always succeeding on either front. These were the meal cards one was expected to follow when participating in the program at the time. 

After reading a few of the posts, I can see why people lost weight. The food was horrendous. And no, that is not an exaggeration. Take a look and decide for yourself. Or look away. Choose for yourself. 

(All recipe card photos courtesy of Candy Boots. Further proof of bad decision making in the 70s.)

Sure-fire "guest" favorites: Chilled Celery Log, Chicken Liver Bake and Liver Pate en Masque

First Course: Inspiration Soup, Rosy Salad (complete with Jello!) and Fluffy Mack Pudding

Main Course: Fish with Onion Sauce, Mackerelly, and Snappy Mackerel Casserole

No need to worry about dessert. Serving these dishes guarantees your guests won't be staying that long.

As much as I complain about being on a diet, this makes me thankful for today's Points Plus Program. I'd like to say I won't complain any more, but we all know that's not gonna happen.