How to calculate syns with this 'free food allowance'?

Hi all,

firstly I am following the SW plan, but not joined up to a class or online currently, so don't have access to any online calculator, or have a food directory.

I've seen that you can work out syn values by using the 20 points per syn rule. But, I've also read about working the 'free food allowance' - into the calculation, and have no idea what this means, or how to do it.

I don't do green days or EE days, apart from once in a blue moon, so am mostly concerned with the red days.

Is there a simple rule or calculation that I can use here? How does this 'free food allowance' factor in? I'm presuming this means if the product I wanted to syn, for example, was some product with meat such as chicken as the highest ingredient I would somehow allow the chicken part to be 'traded off' - but I would love to know how this works, and if it's a calculation I can make?

Thanks for any help

I'm not exactly sure what you mean; have you read about working the 'free food allowance' on here?

I'd recommend going to class if just once to get the books & understand how SW works.

Slimming World doesn't have points at all only Syns it really would be best for you to get to a class to see how the plans work

Anneski said:

Is there a simple rule or calculation that I can use here? How does this 'free food allowance' factor in? I'm presuming this means if the product I wanted to syn, for example, was some product with meat such as chicken as the highest ingredient I would somehow allow the chicken part to be 'traded off' - but I would love to know how this works, and if it's a calculation I can make?

Thanks for any help

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Yes that is right. If a product has a free food as its main ingredient it gets an allowance which makes the syn value lower. Unfortunately there is no way you can work out the syns of a product like this yourself without being a member. Members can look up syn values online or work them out using an online syn calculator which takes the free food into account when working out the syns.

Hi! May I recommend squiddie's thread for more information:
http://www.minimins.com/slimming-world/116347-slimming-world-faqs.html

If you read through the posts you should get a good idea of the plan.

I think you might be refering to 20 calories per syn as a rough guideline. It doesn't apply to all food though. Free food is as it's says - unlimited free food! You can eat as much of it as you like although stop when you are full! Good luck!

Stoffie said:

Hi! May I recommend squiddie's thread for more information:
http://www.minimins.com/slimming-world/116347-slimming-world-faqs.html

If you read through the posts you should get a good idea of the plan.

I think you might be refering to 20 calories per syn as a rough guideline. It doesn't apply to all food though. Free food is as it's says - unlimited free food! You can eat as much of it as you like although stop when you are full! Good luck!

Click to expand...

Hiya, yes, I did mean calories - it's been a long week, lol!

Thanks for all the answers, I have been to class in the past and do understand the plan, but cannot afford to currently - but it was on here that I suddenly started reading about the '20 calories a syn' guide, and the free food allowance being used to work out the syn value. I just wondered if it was something I could work out for myself, or not - now I know I can't, that's fine

Another question then, can I ring the telephone line that gives you syn values, without being a current member?
Thanks!

Yes anyone can ring the syn hotline, member or not, but you do get charged through the nose for it. Why not post syn questions on the syn values forum here as there is usually someone around who can help out.

As most mention, the best way to use Slimming world is to join online or go to a group. But if you really cant do this and you want to try on your own, you can normally pick up a food directory and other reciepe books on ebay