So what is this blog about about I hear you ask! Back in September 2012 I decided it was time for a change in my life. It was time to lose the weight that I had steadily been gaining for the previous four years and keep it off for good. I signed up for Weight Watchers and realised that, through the plan, I could combine my love and passion for good food and cooking with my new diet to produce the most wonderful tasting and filling meals whilst still losing weight.
Through creating and consuming these recipes, I realised very quickly that by making a few small substitutions and eating the right amount of certain foods, I could have a fabulous diet without feeling like I was missing out on anything. In this way I found you could eradicate the ‘guilt factor’ from many meals which I once thought would be off limits.
Now 52lb’s down, and having maintained my weight for almost three years, I am still trying out new ideas, tips and recipes to keep food tasty and exciting.
This blog is therefore filled with the low Smart Point recipes and ideas for your enjoyment. Some of the recipes are my own, some are shared from family and friends and others converted from cookbook’s and online recipes that are a bit naughty in points. The one thing they all have in common is that they are all portioned out and pointed up to make it as easy as possible for you to follow the plan yourself and get to your goal weight!
**DISCLAIMER**
All the recipes on my blog have been pointed using the Weight Watchers Smart Points System (previously ProPoints) (which I do not own and belongs to Weight Watchers) and the points stated are for your guidance only. The point calculations are my own, are subject to change and have been worked out using the wonderful online ‘Recipe Builder’ on the Weight Watchers website. In this way, by specifically stating weights and amounts to use in each recipe, I have tried to be as accurate as possible in producing the end points value to leave you with as easy a life as possible. Sometimes however, something may go wrong. If you adjust any of the weights or measures, it might be worth running the recipe back through the recipe builder to find out how your own adjustments have changed the total points value.
While my blog is aimed at helping all you fellow Weight Watchers out there, the recipes are generally low in fat and packed full of veg and so are good for those of you just seeking out a healthier version of a recipe.
I hope you enjoy my blog and if you have any questions or comments, I’m always grateful for feedback!
If you are interested in working with me please feel free to email me at skinnykitchensecrets@hotmail.com and let me know what you have in mind!
Laura
Before/After
Great pics girl! I look forward to following you 🙂
-April
Thanks for the comment, off to check out your blog too 🙂 – Laura
Just discovered your blog yesterday and impressed
Thanks Elizabeth! X
Hi Laura you look amazing What an achievement I’m so looking forward to trying your recipes. Your an inspiration xx
By what is the site called that has search for recipes. I can’t find it on this page. Thanks
Hi Gillian, the search bar in on the right on desktop or at the bottom of the first page on smartphone x
I follow your blog on the ww website and LOVE your skills with food and the fact that 90% of it is store cupboard ingredients is fab. I use to have to sit and troll through to find new one I liked of ideas and just come across this blog! so excited that I can have the recipes at my fingertips. Thank you for your dedication and inspiration. Look forward to future recipes already xx
Ah thank you what a lovely thing to say , I’m so glad that you like it! You will have to let me know if you try anything ? x
Hi Laura, are you able to repoint the pro points to smart points so we can use the other recipes you have posted. So many there to choose from I can’t wait to start trying some of them out! Would also like to recommend your recipes to friends who have joined weight watchers recently, hence my query.
Hi Nichole, I am just going through them all as we speak working out their smart point values! As you can imagine, since there are so many it’s taking a while! If there is one in particular you would like to know give me a shout and I can let you know – otherwise they should all be updated by the early new year 🙂 you can also take any of them and pop it into the recipe builder online to work out the new value. Hope you enjoy my recipes!!
Hi Laura. Tried one of your beef recipes last weekend…tasted absolutely fab! I hate cooking, but am really inspired to try more in the next couple of weeks. Vicky Px
Hey Vicky! Ah which one did you try? So glad you enjoyed it 🙂 x
Hi, I came across your blog on the WW site. I am struggling to stick to the plan as I have become so lazy, not cooking and just eating rubbish in the evenings….my evening meal is where it all goes wrong for me. This website is fantastic, something for everyone, I am looking forward to trying your recipes, thank you. Oh and you look amazing, well done on your loss! x
Hi Jill, ah thank you so much for your lovely comment! Do let me know if you give anything a try and good luck with your journey 🙂 x
Your chilli con carne recipe is the BEST chilli I have ever had and my husband things so too! Your recipes are fantastic, so pleased I found your website in a page in the weight watchers magazine! do you have any ideas of how to do a chicken korma for low pro points? x
Ah thank you and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment 🙂 I don’t at the mo but I will pop it on my list x
really enjoyed reading your feature in the latest w.w mag, the chicken and sweet potato recipe looks really good! x
Thank you for such a great website! Really glad I saw this in the WW magazine. I tried the chorizo and chickpea stew and it was amazing! Can’t wait to try the other recipes on here!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment Anna 🙂 So glad you liked it! Do let me know if you try anything else. That one is one of my favs! You can share pics of meals you have made on my FB page too xz
Looks and sounds amazing going to give some of your recipes a go just hope I have the same success in losing some weight as yourself, thank you
Ah thank you for your lovely comment, good luck with your journey 🙂 x
Hi, I first came across your blog on the Weight Watchers website, your blog/website are fantastic. A big thank you for sharing all your recipes, I am a big foodie and also a Weight Watchers member so this is right up my street. I made your Sticky Five Spice Pork Stir fry recipe (although used chicken instead of pork) on Friday night and I can honestly say it was truly delicious. My partner Neil would agree. Looking forward to trying out more of your recipes. Well done on your weight loss journey, you look fantastic.x
Hi Debbie, ah thanks so much, so pleased you like it and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. The Sticky Pork is one of my favourites!! Good luck on your weight loss journey and do let me know if you try anything else 🙂 x
So glad I found this website(thanks to the recent article in the magazine)… it’s amazing! I’m a second time round weight watcher (having lost 3 stone a couple of years ago and stupidly putting it all back on again over 3 years). I’ve lost 13lbs so far and have been looking for some recipes to give me a boost. I made the Chipotle Chicken Quesadilla last week, am doing the Venetian Duck Ragu tonight and am just doing some research for my shopping list for next week. All recipes are delicious and my fiance has also been enjoying them 🙂 I’ve decided that you are going to be my inspiration for when I’m lacking motivation. Your before and after pictures are pretty much where I’ve come from and where I want to be!
Hi Claire,
Ah thanks so much, so pleased you like it and my recipes. I have to cook to be diet friends and also to fill my fiancé so that’s the daily challenge haha ah thank you!! Such a lovely thing to say. Do let me know if you try anything else and good luck 😀 x
Loving this. Thanks for the recipes
Hi just click on your blog it is brilliant looks fab easy to follow recipes I will be definitely be doing them thank you and you look fabulous too keep it up xx
Hi Gillian, thanks so much 🙂 Let me know if you try anything x
This is such an amazing blog. So full of advice and recipes xx keep up the fabulous work C x
Thanks so much Anne, do let me know if you try anything 🙂
Hope the pro point recipes get converted so we can try them out, they look fabulous.
Hi just made you’re chicken Katsu it was delicious came in at 9sp per portion , as left the egg and flour out for coating the chicken.
Se please you enjoyed Andrea 🙂
I will trying a lot more of you’re recipes ?
Hope you enjoy!
Laura. I know how you like a challenge! I was searching your menus for a tasty, skinny chicken chow mein. How do you fancy creating another masterpiece?
I do indeed Jackie, challenge accepted 🙂
Have just had the chorizo cod for tea, it was amazing, my husband and son cleared their plates.
Ah so pleased you enjoyed it!
Hi Laura, your meals look amazing a real insentive ! Thank you
Lyn from Kent
Thanks Lyn, do let me know if you try anything and lovely to see you this weekend 🙂
Hi Laura, I saw your article in the new weight watchers magazine and I am amazed all your recipes look amazing!!! I will be definitely be using your recipes over then next coming weeks and months! It has certainly inspired and motivated me to get more out of what I’m eating! Thank you x
Ah thanks so much Jade. Do let me know if you try anything 🙂 x
Your recipes all look AMAZING, you have inspired me to plan a whole week of healthy dishes, after being off the WW wagon for a loooong time!! I get the WW magazines but I don’t often find recipes in there that I really want to try… yours, however, all look so yummy and easy that I can’t wait to get started 🙂
Ah thank you Heather, I hope you enjoy them and do let me know if you try anything 🙂
Just made the creamy Cajun pasta. Amazing…….One of the best homemade meals I have ever made. Will def be trying more of your recipes. Thanks……
So pleased you enjoyed it Caroline! Do let me know if you try anything else X
I struggle with recipes for ww but just found this site. It’s amazing and full of inspiration. Thank you x
Ah I’m so pleased you find it useful Debbie, thanks for the feedback!
Excellent blog Laura. I love your style of cooking, and my hubby does not even realise they are healthy. Just pasted you blog on to my vegetarian daughter-in-law.
Ah thanks so much Chet, so pleased you all like it 🙂
Hi Laura, have been meaning to message you. Wanted to say that as a fellow Weight Watchers Gold member you are the reason i’ve not been tempted to stray!! My husband (who is a keen cyclist) and I eat one of your recipes at least 5 times a week. If I’m not eating one of your recipes I am adapting my own fav’s and making sure I substitute ingredients for the lower pointed ones. I use canderell in a lot of my cooking instead of sugar. I even make my favourite cocktail Mojito’s with it and they are amazing! Always checking out your blog for new recipes, going to try your curry tonight. The new sea bass risotto is amazing! The only criticism is that I now need a new kitchen, as my store cupboard is so full of amazing ingredients that its falling out on me overtime I open the door! You should be commissioned to write a book!!
Hi Paula, what a lovely message to receive thank you so much for your kind words. I’ve never thought of doing a cocktail with sweetener, I will have to give it a try!! Hope you enjoyed the curry, the seabass risotto is my new favourite. Haha your cupboards sound just like mine! x
Would love the mojito recipe and smart point value!
Dear Laura,
Often my husband and I will go for a coffee to plan the week’s shopping and I will bring your website up. It would be so great if you put the smart point per serving value next to the name of the dish so we could see at a glance the lower pointed recipes. Is that possible?
Thanks for all your great recipes.
Hi Janet, what a great way ta plan your weeks food. Unfortunately I can’t add them to the images however I am in the process of adding ‘tags’ to all my recipes so you could search for something that was say 6sp in the search bar and it would bring up those recipes!! Hope that helps x
Any chance of a skinny kitchen recipe book Laura? Your recipes are brilliant and I like online but love books…and I’m sure it would fly off the shelves. Trying creamy chicken and kale gnocchi bake tonight. Yum.
Hi Laura,
Thank u so much for all the hard work u do in letting us share your recipes. They really do make loosing weight so much easier and are really tasty n satisfying. Have just made the one pot paella and it was delicious!
Just an idea but would it be possible to have a ‘search’ button cos often I know a recipe has say chorizo in it but have to trawl thru quite a lot of meals to find it. Would make it easier when I’m searching for a recipe with ingredients I have available.
But what we, thanks again
Kind regards
Ruth
Hey sweetie,
PRETTY PLEASE would you do a section on receipes for the slow cooker.
I work full time and using the slow cooker can make things easier for me.
❤❤
Hey!! Lots of you recipes can be done in the slower cooker, I had a Beef madras on my site and the lamb pasta I made yesterday is a slow cooker recipe too. Most of the sauces can be popped in there though ?
Thanks hon I’ll have a look. ?
Hi Laura, thanks for the add.
I am a self confessed hopeless cook, and was looking for help making something different and appetising that helps me stick to my goal weight even as a Gold Member I find it hard. I have just looked at some of your recipes they look brilliant with easy to follow recipes I will be definitely be doing them hope they turn out half as good as yours look !
Thank you for the inspiration x
Will you be repointing to Flex smart points ?
Hi Maggie, ah hope you enjoy them. My recipes are quiet straightforward so as long as you stick to the method you should be fine ? I will be repointing them over the coming weeks. You will be able to tell when I have as (Flex) will appear next to the smart points allowance x
Excellent, thank you x
Hi. I’ve just come across your blog. Sounds good to me. Thanks for creating this. I look forward to tuning in. I have managed to lose a stone but do find it difficult to stay on track and all the recipes in the magazine are for families. Do you ever have recipes for one or two people. Thanks. So pleased to have found you.
Irene in London.
Hi Irene, congratulations on losing a stone already! Yes lots of my recipes are for 2 as I often cook for just my husband and I. Each recipe says at the top how many it serves. If it serves 4 you can always halve everything so it serves to and keep one portion for the next day ? x
Hello
I have recently discovered your website and as a keen cook I am looking forward to trying some of the dishes.
I recently tried the daal recipe, and naturally repointed it myself due to the Flex changes. I then took the time to write a comment on the recipe with the new Flex points included to try and help out the task of updating your receipes. It has not been published and i have not received a reason. Is this something you don’t want people to do? If so, i shan’t go to the trouble of leaving a comment if and when i try any other recipes.
Regards
Angela
Hi Angela. Comments don’t get published automatically on my site as unfortunately I get a lot of spam comments so I had to change the way it worked to avoid this. I therefore have to approve each comment individually. I run my site as a hobby alongside my full time job so don’t get a chance to get online and approve the comments each day, it’s usually once a week or so, but I can assure you I love people leaving feedback and kind and helpful comments. I also very much appreciate you repointing the recipe for me and I’m glad you liked it. Do let me know if you try anything else 🙂 Laura x
Thanks Laura, understand completely! I will certainly add any Flex points to recipes i make, happy to help as your website is fab! – i am already planning the Harissa lamb Tagine and Greek Lamb Orzo….and both the baked oats flavours….the list goes one!!
Your amazing blog was discussed with enthusiasm at our WW meeting tonight in Edinburgh. Our WW leader loves your blog, and I can see why! Can’t wait to inject some enthusiasm into my meals by following your recipes!
Impressive Blog. Already preparing a new grocery list ! You are going to make my WW journey more tasty and exciting :). Considering I’m not a great cook you are actually adding some new skills to my life too. Thank you !
Hi Laura
I had your chicken pathia recipe out of the freezer last night and when I checked the ingredients list today to put on my shopping list I see it has changed to the Flex system. Do you have an index or list with the original Smartpoints values anywhere on the blog? I maintain at home and so am struggling to figure the new system as well as slightly bristling to have to change and relearn again – I only went back once to get the Smartpoints stuff and buy a calculator!! Although I have to confess I love the idea of onion bhajis being 0!! Many thanks.
Hi Avril, I don’t have the old points anywhere but from memory I think it was only 2sp as it’s just the chicken that’s pointed. The new plan is worth a try, I much prefer it as there are so many 0sp foods so lots of options ? x
Hi Laura my name’s Jeannette I’m on flex and struggling to loose anything .
My friends av told me to go onto your page for ideas . I can cook as been in catering for 20yrs . I’ve just made your salt n pepper chicken it was so nice . Thank you
This is my go to for dinners….. When are you bringing out a book?
I love your website. I’ve just started weight watchers again for the I don’t know how many times over the past 15 years, but this time I’m determined and your blog is inspirational and am going to try out your recipes, they look great. X
Laura, can I just start with a missive thank you!! I have been following weight watchers now for a few months, and really enjoy cooking but was getting bored with the general WW recipes, and tired of seeing the very bland looking food people post on Connect……Then I came across your blog….the meals are delicious. I now plan and cook one of your meals every evening, I have tried so many dishes, from the Chicken tikka burger and sagaloo, the wild mushroom and truffle risotto, salt and pepper chicken, fish tacos……all are so yummy. My husband is a very happy man too…..he feels like he is eating out every day!
Keep up the good work……
Alex x
Hi Laura….Do you have any recipe suggestions for Slim Noodles? I am trying so hard to embrace them!
Hey Lora, I’m sorry I’m not a fan of these so I don’t use them – I find the texture a little odd and the taste a bit bland. I much prefer butternut squash noodles so I have a few recipes for those ?
Absolutely love your site ? However I can’t seem to get the link to Kung Po chicken to work. It certainly used to as I’ve made it before ?
Hi Niki, did you manage to find it? You can look on the search bar or under chicken, or under Asian x