*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

For Christmas Day, since it’s just my fiancé, parents and I, we like to keep things pretty lowkey. We got a reservation at Paddlefish for lunch, which I was excited about since I’ve been here before for a company Christmas party and knew it would be good but also manageable for my SmartPoints budget. 

Let’s take a look at some of my recommendations for a delicious lunch you can enjoy even on myWW (Weight Watchers): the chicken breast, fish tacos, and blackened catfish sandwich. ​

We got the shrimp cocktail for an appetizer, which is a good choice on really any diet plan. I didn't photograph it, but it came with about seven large pieces of shrimp, some cocktail sauce with horseradish, and a lemon for squeezing. If you're trying to either go low-carb or resist temptation, also note that our server did not bring bread to our table - I'm sure they would have if we asked, but we didn't, so that was nice to know that I wouldn't be loading up on just straight carbs before my meal.

I opted for something I knew to help me track it on Weight Watchers that I also knew was really good: the chicken breast. You get a large portion of chicken between some salad greens and a succotash, and it’s cooked in a Carolina mop sauce, which is flavorful yet light since it’s vinegar-based. The mop sauce from the chicken is also on the bacon succotash, which consists largely of edamame and corn with some real bacon bits thrown in the mix (not a lot of bacon in there to worry about it, and if you aren’t a fan it’s easy enough to pick out). This made for a lower in SmartPoints dish that was extremely filling and satisfying to my tastebuds. It’s also a great option if you’re carb-cycling and on a low carb day.

My mom enjoyed her fish tacos which included a red cabbage slaw, papaya-mango salsa, sweet chili aioli on top of whatever the catch of the day was. In her instance it looked like tilapia or flounder. The tortillas weren’t massive, so this is another dish I’d recommend if you’re trying to not overdo it but also not sacrifice on taste or being filled!

My dad ordered the blackened catfish sandwich - he said the bun wasn’t buttered, so that’s a plus! However he said for sides, the asparagus was delicious but, in his words, you’d be just as good off getting the French fries (unless you’re doing a high fat diet like keto) due to how much oil the asparagus was sitting in. This is definitely something worth noting! If you do opt for a veggie side, my fiancé got the green beans for his, which had significantly less oil but still some in the dish. But as for the sandwich itself, the fish was light and flavorful without being super oily. Definitely a good choice if you’re in the mood for a sandwich! 

On top of everything else, the atmosphere and the view is awesome at Paddlefish. You have a gorgeous view of the water and Disney Springs while you dine, and is definitely one of Disney’s finer-dining locations without being super expensive. Prices here can get pricey for certain seafood dishes, but it’s really comparable to anywhere else at Disney Springs that isn’t a quick-service place. 

• Check the menu in advance! You can also turn to my Restaurants Guide for Disney Springs if you're heading that way to see what I've combed through. There are plenty of options here where you can still enjoy your meal without having something fried, greasy, or heavy if you're trying to avoid that. 
• Try to find a dish that is higher in protein; here, that should be fairly simple between the chicken dish I got and a variety of seafoods. 
• If anything comes with a sauce or dressing, ask for it on the side (or, you can do what my mom and I do sometimes which is bring our own in a to-go condiment/dressing container).
• If your entree doesn't necessarily come with a side (mine did not, as the succotash was built in to the entree), ask yourself if it really needs it or if what you'll be served is filling enough as is. This will save you some money and calories while helping you practice mindful eating. If you receive your dish and realize it's not enough, you can always ask for a side once your meal arrives!
• If your dish is too big to finish, if you aren't going anywhere afterwords, ask for a box so you can take it to go! I also like to ask for a to go cup of water from restaurants so I have something to sip on if I go for a walk around the park or Disney Springs after.

For New Year’s Eve I’ll be at Terralina, so look forward to that review next! But in the meantime, I want to hear from you: what’s your favorite restaurant at Disney Springs?

Christmas is almost here! Thank god for Amazon Prime, right? If you're needing a last minute gift for your support system or if you're looking to treat yourself, here are my favorite Weight Watchers gift ideas.

​*Disclaimer: There are affiliate links throughout this blog post where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

You may have heard me talk about how much I love Lil Buff Proteinon my Facebook page before. This is a great product to help people enjoy sweets like cake and not feel deprived. The recipe calls for egg whites and unsweetened apple sauce (or pumpkin puree) so you're really cutting back on the fat and calories, and the protein count in this makes even half of a cake mix (they're single serving bags) super filling! There are other similar brands out there too like Andrea'sif you're wanting to also get mixes for other baked goods.

Instant Pots and slow cookers are my best friends in the kitchen because I love being able to come home to a healthy, low Smart Points dinner prepared and ready to eat (or only a few minutes away from being done)! There are a few different accessories you can get for it to make life easier, and this is a great way to try new recipes. Accessory kits for Instant Pots give you a bunch in one go!

Air fryers are the other hot ticket item that every Weight Watcher seems to have in their kitchen these days. While they're a great way to treat yourself if you haven't gotten one yet (and smaller ones aren't that expensive anymore!), one useful gift is - similarly to the Instant Pot - hooking someone up with the accessory kit. I've gotten one from my mom and am so excited about all the new ways I can play with my air fryer. 

Ask any Weight Watcher and they'll probably tell you the same thing: you eventually get very bored of chicken and fish! That's why I think cookbooks, especially ones by Weight Watchers or bloggers like Skinnytaste, make for wonderful gifts. Even if every recipe isn't going to be a favorite, chances are it will still create a spark of inspiration to modify it so you can keep trying new things and not letting your taste buds get bored while staying on track.

I know what you might be thinking: "Jess, how on earth is this relevant to Weight Watchers?" Well, you need somewhere to store all your charms, right? Lots of members like to go beyond the traditional key chain to display their achievement charms (given for seasonal events or for hitting certain weight loss and fitness milestones) by putting them on a charm bracelet (Pandora style) or by putting them on a necklace chain. Getting them one of these with a note explaining it's for them to show off their accomplishments is really thoughtful if you ask me!

While not through Amazon Prime, Built Bars are another great gift idea for two reasons. If they're new to Built, you can get them a sample box to try a bunch of different flavors, or you can help them stock up on one of their favorites or a seasonal item with an 18 count box. There are also Built Bites, a tub of mini bars that makes for a great gift, and Built Boost to make getting in your water much more flavorful. If you want 10% off this order (while supporting the blog at no additional cost to you!), you can shop their products by clicking this link or using the coupon code MAGICALLYFIT at checkout!

What are you hoping Santa leaves under the tree? Let me know in the comments!