Hi, I'm new and have a question.

[Salina]

:) I just joined First Place last night, but I am familiar with the food exchange plan. I was wondering how to figure out the exchanges for foods that are not in the pocket food guide. For example, I like some of the Weight Watchers products, but I don't know how to substitute the points that they go by for the exchanges that First Place goes by. Does this make sense. Is there a formula or something? Can someone help me. Thanks,

Salina

[GAPeach]

Hi Salina--I'm new, too--just completed my 1st week. I have found that the Healthy Choice entrees give the exchanges, as well as WW points. But, I can't answer about the WW products. I'm curious to see what others say.
Welcome.

[RebaR]

You may want to check out the website for the company- some of them have the exchanges on the web page... I know that lean cuisine used to... I haven't checked in a while.

Reba

[B7343]

Salina,
I’m not an expert and I’m not sure how easy it will be to communicate this in writing, but I’ll try to explain what I would do with a WW product. First you shouldn’t try to get ‘points’ to match ‘exchanges’ because the systems are set up differently. I went online and got the nutrition facts for SMARTONES Roast Turkey Medallions frozen entrée. Here’s what the label says: 1.5g fat; 38g carb; 13g protein
From the picture (which is very small!) it looks like the side dish is rice. That would explain the relatively high amount of carbs. When I convert labels to exchanges I usually start with the carbs (seems easier for me). 1 bread exchange on the Live It is 15g carbs, 3g protein and trace (less than 1g) of fat. This means that the entrée has 2.5 bread exchanges because that would equal 37.5g of carbs (don’t worry about the fractions that are left over!). Now move to the 13g of protein in the entrée…you’ve already accounted for 7.5g of protein in your 2.5 bread exchanges because each bread exchange has 3g of protein included. This means that you have 5.5g of protein left to figure. I would just count that as 1 meat exchange. What this means is that the entrée has 1.5g of fat and the 2.5 bread exchanges and the 1 meat exchange allows about 5g of fat. What I typically do when I have a very low-fat protein (meaning you don’t even get the amount of fat as in the ‘low fat’ exchange) I will eat a couple almonds or a few black olives to bring the fat up to the right amount. For me, getting good fat is as important as cutting out bad fat.

Pat/TX when you check in next, can you add any color to my explanation? So hard to type this out! Salina, I would have no problem at all if you want to dialogue about this via email. I’m at breid_58@yahoo.com.

Welcom to First Place, by the way. You will find it life changing!

Beth

[barb/Australia]

In Your member guide page 44 shows the carbohydrates/protein/fat/calories chart that is easier to convert foods from nutrition labels. Reading across the graph for example
1 bread exchange has 15g carbs 3g protien, trace fat, 80 calories per serve/per exchange.

1 fat exchange = 5g fat, 45 calories (5g=1 teaspoon)

Hope this helps you answer some questions.

[Pat/TX]

Beth,
You did a great job of explaining how you calculate those exchanges! I can't add a single thing other than tracking the calories, too, and trying to use up all the calories while determining the right number of exchanges from each food group. I've already offered Salina my Excel worksheet to help her do those calculations as she projects how many breads, fats, etc. appear to be in the food.

You did well, my friend!

Pat/TX