On the Slimming World plan, different types of food count as different points or syns. We’ve rounded up the best low syn snacks and Slimming World free foods you can enjoy on the diet.
Slimming World was established in 1969 and continues to be one of the most popular weight loss programmes in the UK. Each member has an eating plan tailored to their weight loss target and daily points, or syns are calculated accordingly.
In order to successfully fulfill your plan, you need to keep within your syn limit on a daily basis. This is where free foods and low syn snacks come in handy.
What are Slimming World free foods?
Free foods are often filling foods as they tend to be high in lean protein or fiber. Low calorie snacks such as Snack A Jacks or low calorie fruit, like strawberries or pineapple, are also counted as free food. Free food is unlimited according to Slimming World but is recommended in moderation.
Slimming World says; "The fact that Free Food is unlimited takes away that fear of having to restrict or limit what we eat to lose weight. It means never feeling hungry, guilty or deprived, and never feeling like we want to rebel by reaching for those high-fat, high-sugar foods which, without moderation, can derail our weight loss progress."
Some of these free foods are also perfect for adding to your favourite Slimming World recipes too as they keep the overall syn value of the meal down.
Slimming World low syn snacks
1. Pickled onions and gherkins
Syns: Free
First on our list of Slimming World free foods are pickled onions and gherkins. Both of these tangy options have a great shelf life, need no prep, and are of course free of syns.
2. Chickpeas
Syns: Free
Chickpeas are an excellent source of lean protein, ideal for vegetarians or vegans. A batch of homemade falafel or simply tossed with fresh salad leaves make a great syn-free option for lunch.
3. Frozen fruit
Syns: Free
Most fruit is low calorie making it ideal free food on the Slimming World plan. Scatter berries on plain yogurt or blitz in the food processor to make a smoothie - both options are syn-free.
4. Frylight
Syns: Free
Swap the drizzle of oil or knob of butter in your cooking for a spray of Frylight. Frylight comes in a variety of options too including sunflower oil, extra virgin olive oil, and simple butter.
5. Quark
Syns: Free
One of the most popular Slimming World free foods, Quark is a soft, yogurt-like cheese. It’s considered a healthy protein and can be added to both sweet and savoury recipes.
6. Diet co*ke
Syns: Free
Diet co*ke is a famous syn-free drink and a great alcohol alternative for anyone on the Slimming World plan. Of course like most fizzy drinks, Diet co*ke contains sugar so drink in moderation.
7. Bacon medallions
Syns: Free
Complete your fry-up with bacon medallions. Bacon medallions are only syn-free as long as there is no fat on the medallions so remove before cooking. Otherwise, fat-on medallions work out at 0.5 syns per slice.
8. Yogurt
Syns: Free
Choose fat-free, natural, or Greek yogurt. We’d recommend avoiding yogurts with added sugar or artificial flavourings.
9. Pasta
Syns: Free
Pasta is the perfect syn-free food to add to salads or dishes to bulk it up and make it extra filling. Choose wholewheat pasta as it’s made with complex carbs and is packed with protein, fiber, iron, magnesium, and zinc.
10. Potatoes
Syns: Free
New potatoes, jacket potatoes, roast potatoes, and mashed potatoes, whichever option you choose, potatoes are Slimming World free foods. Sweet potatoes are also free.
11. Rice
Syns: Free
Pair your homemade curry or hearty casserole with syn-free rice. Just like pasta, opt for brown rice over white or fragrant, as it's more nutritionally beneficial.
12. Fat-free cottage cheese
Syns: Free
There’s no need to ditch cottage cheese if you're on the Slimming World plan. This simple ingredient can top savoury jacket potatoes or sweet pancakes and is packed full of calcium.
13. Chopped tomatoes and passata
Syns: Free
Not only are chopped tomatoes and passata Slimming World free foods, but they are also packed with health benefits too including the antioxidant, lycopene, which has been linked to reducing heart disease and cancer.
14. Balsamic vinegar
Syns: Free
Drizzle your pasta or salad dish with a generous helping of balsamic vinegar. It’s the perfect syn-free salad dressing alternative, plus its just 14 calories per one tablespoon.
15. Slimming World Free Food Chips
Syns: Free
Available from Iceland, Slimming World’s Free Food Chips are exactly that, free food. These grilled, skin-on potato-based chips are lightly seasoned with sea salt.
16. Eggs
Syns: Free
Boiled, scrambled, fried, poached, or baked, eggs are a syn-free option making them perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. They’re a great source of protein too, keeping you fuller for longer.
17. Mushy peas
Syns: Free
Complete your Slimming World fish and chips with a tin of syn-free mushy peas. If choosing tinned mushy peas, check the salt content otherwise choose to make them from scratch as a healthier alternative.
18. Butternut squash
Syns: Free
Like most vegetables, butternut squash is free food on the Slimming World plan. Think butternut squash soup, stuffed butternut squash, or roasted butternut squash.
19. OXO cubes
Syns: Free
Give your dish plenty of flavour with an OXO cube - one of the handiest Slimming World free foods. Beef, chicken, or vegetable are all considered syn-free.
20. Jelly Babies
Syns: 1 per sweet
Jelly babies are perfect if you’re craving a bit of sugar but don’t want to push your syn count over for the day. One of these Jelly Babies is just one syn.
21. Primula Light Cheese spread tubes
Syns: 2 per 25g
Serve on crackers, rice cakes, or slices of bread. Primula Light Cheese is also used by Slimming World members as a base for Slimming World macaroni and cheese.
22. Pasta ’n’ Sauce
Syns: Between 2 and 2.5 per packet
The majority of the Pasta ‘n’ Sauce range is between 2 and 2.5 syns per packet, however, the Tuscan Sausage option is 6 syns, so keep this in mind when buying.
23. Snack A Jacks
Syns: 2.5 per packet
A low syn snack and lunch box filler, Snack A Jacks are just 2.5 syns per packet. Remember to eat in moderation though as some flavours are high in salt.
24. Options Hot Chocolate
Syns: 2.5 per cup
Swap the usual coffee or tea for hot chocolate instead. Options Hot Chocolate is just 2.5 syns per cup (more info about portion sizes can be found on the product packaging) and is the perfect choice when you’re craving something sweet.
25. HiFi bars
Syns: 3 in each
HiFi bars may not be considered one of Slimming World free foods, but are just 3 syns per bar. They come in a variety of different flavors too; fruit and nut, salted caramel, chocolate orange, and chocolate mint.
26. Halo Ice Cream
Syns: 3-4 per tub
A very popular dieting ice cream brand, Halo Ice Cream is not only low syn, it’s also low calories too. For example; there are just 280 calories in a whole tub of the chocolate flavour or 320 in the cookies and cream flavour.
27. Curly Wurly
Syns: 6 per bar
The final of our Slimming World free foods is unfortunately not free but low in syns at just 6 syns per bar. The perfect low syn snack at the end of the week.
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