Smart "Lunch Pail" Items from Weight Watchers

Weight Watchers' Teresa Rose compared lunch in the old school lunch pail vs. what's in today's lunch pail and has some tips for healthy foods to pack in their kids' lunches.

Weight Watchers Smart Bars

These bars are smart for your waistline and your health.
Per serving (1 bar): 83 Calories, 3g Fat, 0 g Sat Fat, 0g Trans Fat, 14mg Cholesterol, 11mg Sodium, 12g Carbohydrates, 2g Fiber, 3g Protein, 27mg Calcium

Yield: 32 bars

Ingredients
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/2 cup pecan halves
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk
1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 large eggs
1 ripe banana
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions
Kids Can: Peel the banana, then moisten their hands and use their fingertips to press the bar mixture into the pan as evenly as possible.

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Coat a 9 × 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray.
Combine the oats, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, apricots, pecans, raisins, cranberries, dry milk, flour, and cinnamon in a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is finely chopped. Add the syrup, eggs, banana, and vanilla and pulse until well combined.
Transfer the mixture to the pan, wet your fingertips with cool water, and press down to level the surface. Bake until the mixture is golden brown and firm to the touch, about 20 minutes.
Cool in the pan and cut into 32 bars

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Weight Watchers Middle Eastern Bean Dip

Ingredients

2 Tbsp olive oil, extra-virgin
1 Tbsp lemon zest, freshly grated
1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp Durkee ground cumin, or other brand
3/4 tsp table salt, or to taste
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
19 oz Green Giant ® Canned Butter Beans, or other brand, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup(s) parsley, fresh, Italian flat leaf, chopped

Instructions

·Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor; process to desired consistency. Yields about 1/4 cup per serving.

Notes

·If your dip is too thick, use water and extra lemon juice to thin it out.

This dip makes a wonderful sandwich spread.