6 Points-friendly swaps for foods you loved as a kid

Remember as a child when youlovedplaincruciferous vegetables? Just kidding—we don’t, either. If your ’80s or ’90s palate was anything like ours, you gravitated to snacks and meals that were sugary, salty, cheesy—basically, anything ultra tasty and, in some cases, nutritionally questionable.

At WeightWatchers®, we’d never tell you not to enjoy those old-school faves today if that’s your thing. But if you’re looking for a nostalgic treat that’s a bit morePoints™-friendly, we’ve got you covered. These six tasty ideas will deliver a delicious blast from the past without breaking your Budget.

For pre-2000 kids, there was nothing quite like rolling out of bed on a Saturday morning to zero school, a TV cartoon marathon, and a bowl of sweetbreakfast cereal, preferably overflowing. As adults, suffice it to say we have less leisure time—and are way more aware of serving sizes. Kellogg’s is on it: WithJumbo Snax, they’ve reimagined their classic cereals as portable, portion-controlled treats that require no spoon for enjoyment. Available in Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks, and Corn Pops versions, Jumbo Snax are a new WW member fave with just 2 Points per pouch (vs. 4–5 Points per serving of the cereals).

The ’80s and ’90s were an era of wild hybrid products—see: lunchbox cassette players, and shoes fitted with tiny trampolines. One mashup to beat them all? Pizza bagels. Packed with flavor and ready in minutes, these were the ultimate after-school snack. That said, you may not have realized how salty pizza bagels can be—a common quality of many premade frozen meals and snacks. Fear not, you can still enjoy the taste (and convenience!) even if you are watching your sodium intake, saysJaclyn London, MS, RD, CDN. The key is choosing sodium-conscious ingredients: Start with a whole-grain English muffin or mini bagel, then add a lower-sodium marinara sauce and shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese. You can also play around with toppings like fresh veggies and lean proteins to create a more filling bite. And if you have a little extra time or would simply prefer a completely homemade version, try WW’spepperoni bagel bites. Made with our popular two-ingredient dough, these satisfying, cheesy snacks are just 3 Points each.

Who can forget those single-serve ice creams with the wood spoons glued to the lids? Back in the day, you could hardly attend a school mixer or neighborhood BBQ without a frosty cup in hand. Today, consider getting your creamy, frozen goodness from an unlikely source: bananas! With a dash of vanilla extract, pureed frozen bananas form the base for a delicious frozen treat dubbed “nice” cream. Use it to create classic blends likestrawberryandchocolate almond, or add additionalfruitsfor custom flavors. Plus. you’ll get all the nutrients of bananas, London says, including potassium, magnesium, fiber, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.

It’s easy to understand why peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches have long been a lunchbox staple: Kids love the sweet-savory combo, while parents appreciate how quickly they can slap those sammies together. But who says the PB&J vibes have to stop in adulthood? A few simple swaps can help you level up this classic lunch. Start with 100%whole-grainbread, which contains fiber and other key nutrients, then spread with your favoritenut butter. Whether you go with traditional peanut or another variety like almond butter, you’ll getplant-based proteinandhealthful fats! Finally, finish your sandwich assembly with fresh berries or thin slices of apple. You’ll get the same burst of sweetness without the added sugar found in many jarred jellies, notes nutritionist Leslie Fink, MS, RD, a recipe editor at WW.

For many kids, few food substances are more iconic than the bright-orange cheese powder in a box of mac and cheese. The rub is that easy-prep mac and cheese can also behigh in sodium, with a 1/3-cup serving hovering around 8 Points. Luckily, it’s simple to make a more Budget-friendly version of this creamy classic dish: Just amp up the veggies! Try halving the cheese in your go-to recipe and bulking up the sauce with cooked, puréed butternut squash or carrots. Thiscreamy versionuses cauliflower to a healthy payload of nutrients—all at about one-third the sodium of boxed options.

Before we were all chugging cold brew and sipping mocha lattes, trips to the local coffee shop meant just one thing: donuts. Whether you liked yours glazed, frosted, or bursting with jelly, there was nothing more amazing than a sweet circular treat to start (and/or end) the school day. Nowadays, if you don’t want to part with 17 Points for a deep-fried, super-sugary confection, consider baking your own donuts at home using a silicone donut pan. (Pro tip: The pan included in our2-Ingredient Dough Bagel Kitworks just as well for donuts as it does bagels!) WW’sdelicious recipesrange from classic chocolate to maple bacon. You can even go savory with potato or mac-and-cheese versions!

--

Nicole Saporita is a senior content manager for consumer wellness at WW. A writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York, she specializes in health & wellness, lifestyle, consumer products, and more. Her work has appeared inGood Housekeeping,Prevention, andREDBOOKmagazines.