Christmas is a special time for many reasons, including the delicious treats and indulgent feasting that is a big part of the festive season.
While there is no need to restrict your diet at this time of year, it is possible to completely blow out your calorie intake in a few short days when lashings of high-fat food and alcohol form the base of our diet.
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It is also entirely possible to enjoy delicious Christmas treats whilst also slashing your calorie intake. All you need to know are a few smart swaps on your Christmas menu.
SWAP: Dips for salsa
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Parties mean entertaining platters, and entertaining platters mean dips but unfortunately, the majority of dips you find in supermarkets are 20-30 per cent fat made using oil or cheese as a base. Vegetable-based dips including beetroot or tzatziki are much lighter options or even better are vegetable salsas which contain very few calories.
SWAP: Ham for turkey
One of the most popular Christmas foods, ham is not overly high in fat but it is packed full of salt, with a few slices giving you more than a 1/3 of your entire daily recommended intake of salt. Too much salt, alongside high-fat foods, will leave you feeling tired, heavy and sluggish as your body retains fluid. A much lighter option is the turkey breast meat which is just as flavoursome for very little fat and no added salt.
SWAP: Pork for prawns
Another popular Christmas treat is roast pork with crackling and whilst extremely tasty, it is a roast that is especially high in fat, especially if you are partial to the skin and or/ pork belly. On the other hand, if you love seafood, and shellfish like prawns you will be hard-pressed to find a more nutrient-rich, lower-calorie food to fill your table.
SWAP: Roast gravy for homemade
One of the reasons we love roast dinners so much is that the gravy served with it has been made from the meat dripping. While this is extremely tasty it is also extremely high in fat, adding 20-30g of fat to your meal. An easy swap is to use a pre-mix gravy which is much lower in fat and calories, or even better make your own with a little butter, stock and flour for a much lighter gravy option.
Roast potato for pumpkin
All vegetables are extremely good for us, but it is the double roasted potatoes cooked in gravy or duck fat that may be delicious but contains a lot more fat than potatoes once we have finished roasting them. On the other hand, roast pumpkin is lower in calories and carbohydrates and can be dry roasted and enjoyed with a lot less added fat than crispy baked potatoes.
SWAP: Mince Pies for gingerbread
Any food that has a pastry base offers a hearty dose of saturated fat and the mix of pastry and sugary fruit in a mince pie makes it a high-fat and high-calorie Christmas treat. Gingerbread on the other hand, whilst still sweet offers far less fat and calories and means you have something yummy to enjoy with your tea or coffee.
SWAP: Pudding for pavlova
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Whilst Christmas cake or pudding is not overly high in fat, the heavy fruit load does bump up the sugar content but more so it is the high-fat sauces like brandy custard and cream that we enjoy our Christmas pudding with that bumps up the calories. Pavlova on the other hand is a lot lighter, especially when it is served deconstructed with a little meringue, loads of fruit and served with yoghurt or ice cream instead of dollops of full-fat cream.
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Healthy food swaps for Christmas