Christmas Calorie Counter
If December has been a month of boozing and eating already, then we salute you for enjoying yourself. That's what the festive period is for, after all (and watching Love Actually, obviously). But, it may be best to remind yourself that women should eat around 2,000 calories a day, and come January, you may need to work extra hard on your resolutions.
So, we've created a guideline to make it a bit easier to not derail your diet this Christmas. But definitely help yourself to roast potatoes, obv.
istockphotoTurkey
Calories: A 90g serving of turkey breast roasted with the skin is around 149kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 7.5%
Top tip: All animal skins contain a lot of saturated fat which can be bad for the heart, so where you can, remove the skin, and opt to roast the bird in vegetable fats like olive oil, which are naturally lower in cholesterol. Also, go for the dark part of the meat – slightly higher in calories, but packed full of zinc, vitamin B, K, A and iron, all of which are essential to the body’s health and function.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoStuffing
Calories: A 100g serving of traditionally-made bread and sausage stuffing is around 231 calories
Percentage of daily intake: 11.5%
Top tip: It might be tasty, but stuffing is very high in calories, which is mainly down to the fat in the butter and the sausage meat. For a lower-calorie option, try a vegetarian sage and onion stuffing recipe instead, or opt for chestnut.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
iStockChristmas Ham
Calories: A 100g slice of cooked ham is around 115kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 5.75%
Top tip: Pork isn’t the most nutritionally sound of all the meats, so we’d actually suggest swapping it out for a low-fat, high-mineral slice of dark turkey meat.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
iStockPork Sausage
Calories: A 100g serving of pork sausage is around 305kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 15.25%
Top tip: At almost double the calories as that of cooked ham (because of all the fat it’s made with), we’d suggest giving the sausages a miss and opting for a slice of ham or turkey instead if you are on a diet.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
Rex FeaturesBack Bacon
Calories: A 100g serving of bacon is around 305kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 15.25%
Top tip: Yup. About the same as a sausage. Limit your portion sizes and cut off the fatty rind if you can’t enjoy your roast without a side of bacon. Better still, opt for a leaner pork cut like ham instead.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
AlamyRoast Goose
Calories: A 140g serving of goose is around 427kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 21.4%
Top tip: Goose is higher in calories than turkey because it contains so much more animal fats. Our advice? Ditch the goose and stay super traditional. Or just cut yourself a thin slither!
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
AlamyNut Roast
Calories: A 160g serving of vegetarian nut roast is around 218kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 11%
Top tip: Nut roast really is the best option for the calorie conscious, as it contains little to no animal fats (depending on how it is made – and whether dairy is used in the process) and is full of nourishing nuts, shredded veggies and other delicious things.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoBrussels Sprouts
Calories: A 150g serving of boiled Brussels Sprouts is about 65kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 3.3%
Top tip: Why they only get an airing at Christmas we’ll never know – brussels sprouts are seriously good for you. A single serving contains over twice your daily intake of vitamin K and over a day’s worth of vitamin C, as well as vitamins A, B, iron, fibre, protein and omega 3 acids. Our advice? Eat with gusto. Just steer clear of adding high-calorie butter before serving.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoRoast Potatoes
Calories: A 100g serving of roast potatoes is around 149kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 7.5%
Top tip: There is nothing wrong with eating potatoes – they’re a great source of energy and are naturally low in fat as long as they’re cooked in vegetable-based fats like olive oil, so do make sure you pop a couple onto your plate this Christmas. For an added health bonus, try leaving the vitamin-rich skins on.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoSweet Potatoes
Calories: A 100g serving of roasted sweet potatoes is 90kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 4.5%
Top tip: If you’re looking for a low-calorie alternative to roast potatoes, try roasted sweet potatoes instead. Packed full of dietary fibre and vitamins A and C, not only do they keep you feeling fuller longer, but they also provide your body with essential anti-oxidants to help flush out toxins in the body. Again, roast with vegetable oil and avoid adding sugar before serving.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
Rex FeaturesParsnips
Calories: A 100g serving of roast parsnips is around 70kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 3.5%
Top tip: Even lower in calories is the humble parsnip. Full of fibre and sweet in taste, these roasted root vegetables are great for warding off sweet cravings, so do add a portion to your meal, or swap for potatoes.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
Rex FeaturesBread Sauce
Calories: A 45g serving of traditionally-made bread sauce is 42kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 2.1%
Top tip: It’s as traditional as Santa and reindeer at Christmas, but be careful not to overdo the bread sauce. The butter and wholemilk it contains ups the fat content, while the white bread boosts the sugar content, making it a calorific treat to be enjoyed only in small doses…
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoCranberry Sauce
Calories: A 30g serving of cranberry sauce is around 45kcals
Percentage of daily intake: 2.3%
Top tip: Cranberries are packed full of cleansing anti-oxidants and vitamin C, but what makes cranberry sauce so high in calories is the large amount of sugar that is used to make it. A small spoonful won’t hurt – there is 0g of fat in it, after all – but steer away from overdoing it.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoMince Pies
Calories: A single rich fruit mince pie with short crust pastry is around 250kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 12.5%
Top tip: Mince pies are an absolute must at Christmas, so do make sure you treat yourself to one – just not five. Factor the calories into your daily allowance, and enjoy.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoGingerbread Men
Calories: A single, average-sized gingerbread man is (depending on recipe) around 170kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 8.5%
Top tip: If you want to save a few extra calories, swap out a mince pie for a delicious baked gingerbread man. Ginger is a powerful natural digestive aid and fights inflammation in the stomach, so it’s a great food to have at this indulgent time of year.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoChristmas Cake
Calories: A 100g serving of Christmas cake is about 365kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 18.3%
Top tip: As with Christmas pud, dried fruit is great for you – sugar and booze, not so much. If you are worried about the calorie count, take off the sugary icing and marzipan and just eat the cake itself. But do make sure you have a slice – there’s little worse than being deprived of cake!
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoChristmas Pudding
Calories: A 115g serving of Christmas pudding without cream or custard is about 333kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 16.7%
Top tip: Dried fruit like apricots, dates, raisons, figs and prunes are high in dietary fibre, iron, vitamin A and other nutrients, and are great snacks for maintaining a healthy body. However, Christmas pud contains lots of sugar, flour and traditionally, booze, which catapults the calories sky-high. When you do savour your festive slice, enjoy in moderation.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
iStockYule Log
Calories: A 50g slither of chocolate Yule log is around 220kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 11%
Top tip: Everything in moderation! We wouldn’t want to miss out on a slice, so we’ll just have a small one, cheers. Hold the cream or, if you are worried, opt for fruit cake instead, which is jammed with antioxidants, filling fibre and less saturated fat that your average log will yield.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
Rex FeaturesTrifle
Calories: A 100g serving of Marks & Spencer strawberry trifle is about 160kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 8%
Top tip: The ingredients your trifle are made with determine its calories content– double cream, loads of booze, sugared fruit, sponge fingers, custard and jelly will push it right up. To keep your trifle light, opt for low-sugar and fat versions of the ingredients (like natural fruit jelly, for example) and make yourself at home.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoBrandy Butter
Calories: A tablespoon of brandy butter is about 98kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 4.9%
Top tip: Wondering where all those calories sprang from? The high fat content of the butter, the calorific brandy booze and the sugar are a lethal – but tasty – combination. If you are concerned, try swapping out for a tablespoon of reduced fat crème fraiche at just 25kcal a tablespoon instead.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoVol Au Vents
Calories: A 28g mushroom-filled vol u vent is about 94kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 4.7%
Top tip: A staple food of grandmother’s buffets the country over, vol au vents are little pastry cases bursting with gooey filling ready to be savoured. But if you’re worried about mounting calories, opt for using a vegetable-based margarine instead of butter when making the pastry, and go for low-cal fillings like mushroom or roast vegetables with feta.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
Rex FeaturesCrisps
Calories: A 25g bag of Walkers Ready Salted crisps is 133kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 6.7%
Top tip: They may be tasty, but the high fat and salt content isn’t great for your heart. Drink plenty of water to counter the dehydration caused by the high salt intake, and stick to the one bag. If you fancy a dip to go with, go for a spicy homemade salsa or guacamole, and avoid high-fat sour cream and cheese varieties.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
Rex FeaturesPretzels
Calories: A 25g bag of sea salted oven-baked pretzel knots are about 94kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 4.7%
Top tip: If you do want to slash a few calories here and there, swop your crisps for pretzel nibbles instead – with a lower salt, fat and calorie content, they’re a great table alternative to tuck into.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoCanapés
Calories: Canapés vary in calorific value depending on the recipe, but most are around 57kcal each
Percentage of daily intake: 2.9%
Top tip: As delicious as they are, it’s easy to rack up a meal’s worth of calories and not have the full feeling to show for it when canapés are whizzed round at a party. Do sample a few of your favourites, but eat a good, fibre-rich meal before going out to avoid filling up on snacks.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoMilk Chocolate
Calories: A 100g bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk chocolate is 525kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 26.3%
Top tip: That old phrase springs to mind again – everything in moderation. Sample a row of squares, put the bar back, and save for another day.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoDark Chocolate
Calories: A 100g bar of Green & Blacks 70% Dark Chocolate is 551kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 27.6%
Top tip: As with all chocolate, dark chocolate is high in calories. However, it is lower in fat, and higher in iron and antioxidants, which can help to rid the body of toxins, so enjoying a few squares a day could actually benefit your health.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
Rex FeaturesSugared Almonds
Calories: A serving of ten sugared almonds contains 220kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 11%
Top tip: Almonds are packed full of vitamin E, dietary fibre, calcium, iron and other antioxidants, not to mention “good” unsaturated fats that have been shown to lower cholesterol levels in the body. Is there any better confectionery than this to snack on over Christmas? We doubt it…
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
Rex FeaturesTurkish Delight
Calories: A 100g serving of Turkish delight is 295 calories
Percentage of daily intake: 14.8%
Top tip: Soooo tasty, but very high in sugar, hence the high calorie count. Still, compared with milk chocolate (at 525kcal per 100g) and other confectionaries, Turkish delight is not too bad. Eat in moderation and factor it into your recommended daily calorie allowance.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoPeanuts
Calories: A 100g serving of salted KP peanuts is 622 calories
Percentage of daily intake: 31.1%
Top tip: Peanuts are extremely high in calories, but don’t let that put you off nibbling a few. Not only are they a great source of protein, vitamin E, niacin and folate, but the fat they do contain is “good” fats which can actually help you to lower your cholesterol.
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
istockphotoChestnuts
Calories: A 100g serving of chestnuts is about 170kcal
Percentage of daily intake: 8.5%
Top tip: If you are looking for a low-calorie, protein-rich and equally festive option, pop a couple of chestnuts in the oven or over the fireplace, roast and enjoy at almost a quarter of the calories. Hurrah!
CHRISTMAS DRINKS CALORIE COUNTER
