How Many Points is Bacon on Weight Watchers Freestyle?

Bacon has long been a delicious yet point-heavy food for those following the Weight Watchers program However, with the introduction of the Freestyle program in 2017, the points value for many foods, including bacon, were adjusted This left many Weight Watchers members wondering, how many points is bacon on the new Freestyle program?

An Overview of Weight Watchers Freestyle

Weight Watchers unveiled their Freestyle program towards the end of 2017 as an update to their SmartPoints system The new program introduced a few key changes

• Over 200 zero-point foods including fruits, vegetables, eggs, skinless chicken breast, turkey breast, fish, shellfish, beans, legumes, tofu, nonfat plain yogurt, and nonfat cottage cheese. This made it easier to fill up on nutritious foods without using any points.

• The removal of variable daily SmartPoint budgets based on age, gender, and weight. Freestyle has a universal daily budget of 30 SmartPoints for everyone.

• New formulas for calculating point values that emphasize calories, sugar, saturated fat and protein. Foods higher in lean protein became lower in points.

These changes were designed to make weight loss easier and more personalized on Freestyle. Many Weight Watchers members saw the points value of their favorite foods change under the new formulas. This included bacon.

How Many Points is Bacon on Freestyle?

On the previous SmartPoints plan, a slice of bacon was typically around 2-3 points. But with Freestyle’s new formula, the value for many types of bacon decreased. Now many types of bacon are only 1 point per regular slice.

For example, according to the Weight Watchers database:

• A slice of Oscar Mayer Center Cut Bacon is 1 point
• A slice of Hormel Black Label Thick Cut Bacon is 1 point
• A slice of Smithfield Thick Sliced Bacon is 1 point
• 2 slices of Butterball Everyday Thin & Crispy Turkey Bacon is 1 point

The decrease in points for bacon under Freestyle is thanks to a few factors. First, the program emphasizing protein means bacon’s protein content makes it lower in points. Second, the standardized daily budget means people get more points to use on foods like bacon.

However, keep in mind that premium or extra thick cut bacon is still around 2 points per slice on Freestyle. And turkey bacon with added sugars will be around 2 points as well. But regular sliced bacon is now 1 Freestyle SmartPoint per slice for most major brands.

Cooking Methods and Portion Sizes

It’s important to note that the above point values for bacon are for pan-fried slices. If you prepare your bacon differently, the points can change:

• Pan-fried or baked: 1 point per regular slice
• Microwaved bacon: Use the points listed on the package
• Pre-cooked, ready-to-eat bacon: Check the nutrition label, as points may be higher

The key is sticking close to a normal slice size, around 1 ounce. If you eat a lot of extra thick bacon, or heaping servings, the points can increase. Weighing or measuring your portions is best to get an accurate point value if you tend to over-serve bacon.

Tips for Incorporating Bacon on Freestyle

Here are some tips for enjoying bacon responsibly within your daily SmartPoints budget on Freestyle:

• Use turkey bacon more often, as it tends to be lower in points and fat than pork bacon.
• Measure 1 ounce portions to keep portions in check.
• Avoid cooking methods that add a lot of additional fat or oil like frying in butter or oil.
• Balance bacon at breakfast with zero-point foods like eggs or fruit.
• Build a bacon cheeseburger, but skip the fatty condiments to keep points down.
• Add crumbled bacon to salads and baked potatoes as a lower-point topping.
• Choose pre-cooked bacon to easily grab 1-point portions for breakfast sandwiches or wraps.
• Save bacon for special weekend breakfasts rather than everyday.

With Freestyle, bacon can be incorporated into a healthy eating pattern in moderation. Just be mindful of portion sizes, cooking methods and balancing it out with zero-point foods to keep daily SmartPoints on target. What’s your favorite way to eat 1-point bacon?

Recent Concerns Over Bacon Point Values

While bacon became lower in points on Freestyle for most people, some members have noticed recent packages of bacon having higher SmartPoints values printed on them. This has led to confusion and concerns that WW may have increased their points calculations for bacon.

However, based on WW’s formula, 1 slice of regular pan-fried bacon is still coming up as 1 Freestyle SmartPoint in the WW app and on their website nutritional database.

According to WW, brands are responsible for the point values they print on product packaging. The values printed on a bacon package may differ from what WW calculates for a few reasons:

• The company may have used a slightly different inputs or portion size to calculate points

• They may have used an older calculation formula if packaging has not been updated

• Pre-cooked microwave bacon often has more added ingredients resulting in higher points

So while some bacon packages may print higher values, WW’s own calculations still show 1 point per slice for most major brands. Members are advised to use the values calculated by WW when tracking their points for accuracy.

The Bottom Line

Bacon went from a high-point food to a more point-friendly food with WW’s Freestyle program. While an occasional package may indicate different points, WW still calculates 1 point per regular slice of pan-fried bacon. This makes it easy to incorporate delicious bacon into a Freestyle weight loss plan in moderation.

By choosing turkey bacon, measuring 1 oz portions, avoiding added fats, and balancing it out with 0 point foods, bacon can be enjoyed without derailing your daily SmartPoints budget. So take advantage of this 1-point treat on Freestyle!