How Many Points is Beef on Weight Watchers? A Guide to Tracking Beef

Beef is a favorite protein for many following the WW (Weight Watchers) program. However, with the various cuts, cook methods, and changing points systems over the years, a common question is – how many points is beef on Weight Watchers? In this guide, we’ll provide a breakdown of typical beef point values across some of the most popular WW plans

Overview of Weight Watchers Beef Point Values

In general leaner cuts of beef like sirloin or eye of round tend to be lower in points while higher fat options like ground beef or ribeye are higher. Here’s a quick look

• Lean Cuts (sirloin, round): 3 to 5 points per 3 oz cooked
• Ground Beef: 5 to 8 points per 3 oz cooked
• Ribeye: 8 to 10 points per 3 oz cooked
• Brisket: 10 to 12 points per 3 oz cooked

Portion size makes a difference too. A 6 oz sirloin steak would be double the points of a 3 oz portion. Cooking method also impacts points, with pan-frying adding points via oil.

Below we’ll explore beef points in more detail across some of the most popular WW plans.

Original Points (1997-2010)

On the classic WW Original Points system. lean beef earned the following values per 3 oz cooked portion

• Sirloin or round: 3 points
• Ground beef (90% lean): 5 points
• Ground beef (80% lean): 7 points
• Ribeye: 8 points
• Brisket: 10 points

So a 6 oz ribeye steak would be around 16 points on the Original system. Gravies and sauces added additional points.

PointsPlus and ProPoints (2010-2015)

The PointsPlus system took protein content into account, lowering the points for lean beef:

• Sirloin or round: 4 points
• Ground beef (90% lean): 6 points
• Ground beef (80% lean): 8 points
• Ribeye: 9 points
• Brisket: 11 points

So that 6 oz ribeye came down to around 18 PointsPlus points.

SmartPoints (2015-Present)

On the current SmartPoints system, beef points shift a bit again:

• Sirloin or round: 5 points
• Ground beef (90% lean): 7 points
• Ground beef (80% lean): 9 points
• Ribeye: 10 points
• Brisket: 12 points

The 6 oz ribeye is now 20 SmartPoints. Note these values are for Blue and Purple plans. Green plans may deduct 1-2 points for lean beef cuts.

ZeroPoint Foods (2017-Present)

Some beef options are ZeroPoint foods on WW Freestyle/Blue/Green plans:

• Eye of round
• Sirloin tip
• Top round roast
• Bottom round roast
• Top sirloin

However, portions are still limited for ZeroPoint beef to around 3 oz per day.

Tips for Managing Beef on WW

Here are some tips for working beef into your Weight Watchers plan:

• Stick to lean cuts like sirloin, chuck, round, or loin. Trim visible fat before cooking.

• Limit portions to around 3 oz cooked weight to control points.

• Choose lower fat cooking methods like grilling, broiling, roasting or sautéing. Avoid deep frying.

• Tracking points via packaging, USDA data or WW app ensures accuracy. Estimating can lead to under-tracking points.

• Enjoy ZeroPoint beef within recommended portions if on Green or Blue. Don’t go overboard.

• Compare ground beef options and select leaner 90% or higher if points are a concern.

• Beef points can fit into daily budgets. Just balance with non-starchy veggies and zero point foods.

So with smart choices and controlled portions, beef can be worked into a WW weight loss plan. Refer to WW resources for the most accurate points info based on your specific program.