How Many Weight Watchers Points is Ground Beef?

Ground beef is a nutritious and versatile meat that can be incorporated into many different recipes However, on Weight Watchers, all foods are assigned Points values based on their calories, fat, and fiber content So how many PointsPlus does ground beef have?

Understanding Weight Watchers Points

The Weight Watchers program assigns every food and drink a Points value. Members are given a personalized daily Points budget to spend however they would like. The Points system makes it easy to balance meals and snacks throughout the day.

Foods higher in calories, unhealthy fats, and processed carbs have higher Points. Nutrient-dense foods like fruits, veggies, lean protein, and whole grains are lower.

One Pound (lb) of body weight equates to 1 additional Point in your daily budget. So if you weigh 150 lbs, you get 150 Points per day. Physical activity can earn you extra Points to spend.

Ground Beef Point Values

The Points for ground beef varies based on the leanness or fat content. Here are the standard Values:

Regular Ground Beef (80/20)

• 3 ounces raw: 5 Points
• 4 ounces cooked: 7 Points

Lean Ground Beef (90/10)

• 3 ounces raw: 3 Points
• 4 ounces cooked: 4 Points

Extra Lean Ground Beef (95/5)

• 3 ounces raw: 2 Points
• 4 ounces cooked: 3 Points

As you can see, the leaner the beef, the fewer Points it costs you. Choosing lean ground beef over regular can save you Points.

Comparing Ground Turkey and Chicken

Ground turkey and chicken can be lower in fat than ground beef. But this depends on the leanness. Here are the Point values:

Ground Turkey or Chicken

• Regular, 3 oz raw: 5 Points
• Lean, 3 oz raw: 4 Points

So regular ground turkey or chicken has the same Points as regular beef. But lean ground turkey or chicken has fewer Points than lean beef.

Again, leaner is better for dropping Points. Go for breast meat rather than thigh or wing for ground poultry.

Ways to Reduce Points in Ground Meat Dishes

Here are some tips for making ground meat dishes with fewer Points:

• Use leaner meats like ground sirloin (4 Points per 4 oz) or bison (3 Points per 4 oz)

• Mix in chopped mushrooms, lentils, or oats to add bulk with fewer Points

• Cook in a nonstick pan with cooking spray instead of oil

• Skip the fatty pan sauces and cheese toppings

• Stuff peppers, tomatoes, or zucchini boats instead of pasta dishes

• Make lettuce wraps instead of heavy buns for burgers or meatballs

• Opt for lots of veggie sides like a salad, roasted broccoli, etc.

Ground Meat Recipes with WW Points

Here are some tasty ground beef recipes with estimated Points for a 4 oz cooked portion:

• Cheeseburger: Bun (3) + 4 oz beef (7) + cheese (3) + toppings like lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard (0-2) = 13-15 Points

• Meatballs: 4 oz meatballs (7) + 1/4 cup tomato sauce (1) = 8 Points

• Taco salad: 4 oz beef in lettuce bowl (7) + 1 oz shredded cheese (2) + salsa, Greek yogurt, etc. (0-2) = 9-11 Points

• Stuffed pepper: 4 oz beef (7) + 1/4 cup rice (2), sauce, veggies = 9 Points

With some simple swaps and smart sides, you can enjoy burgers, tacos, meatballs, chili, and more while sticking to your WW Points budget!

The Bottom Line

Ground beef can fit into the Weight Watchers program, but pay attention to portions. Go for leaner varieties and prepare it in healthier ways with lots of vegetables. Aim for no more than 4 ounces of cooked ground beef per meal to keep your Points down.