FROM mince pies and fruity Christmas cake to sweet mulled wine, this time of year is filled with delicious food.
And it’s often impossible to say no – but which ones are the worst offenders in terms of calories?
Calorie counting at Christmas tends to be a no-go. But it’s also OK to be wary of what you’re eating at a time when people tend to eat a little more.
Riya Lakhani Anutr, in-house Nutritionist for Nutravita, says: “The holiday season is finally here, and that of course means indulging in all the delicious Christmas foods.
“But don't feel guilty about enjoying these treats, as depriving yourself can actually lead to overeating.
“Instead, practise moderation and listen to your body's signals of fullness.
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“With so many delicious treats available during the holiday season, it can be easy to overindulge and consume more calories than necessary.
“Checking the nutritional information of your favourite holiday foods can help you make more informed choices and stay on track with your weight goals.”
If you are worried about overdoing it at Christmas, Riya recommends using a smaller plate or taking a break between servings.
She says: “Take your time to savour each bite and appreciate the festive flavours and textures.
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“To balance out the sweet treats, you could sneak in some vegetables and fruits. Chop up some veggies and add them to dips or stuffing, or incorporate fruits into salads or desserts.
“It's also essential to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water which helps maintain a healthy metabolism and aids in digestion, preventing overeating and the dreaded holiday bloating.
“Above all, remember that the goal is to enjoy the season's delights, not to see who can eat the most.”
It’s not just those who are concerned about their weight who may want to know the naughty factor of their mince pie.
Riya says: “Another reason to check the content of Christmas foods is to manage specific health conditions.
“For example, people with diabetes may need to monitor their carbohydrate intake, while those with high blood pressure may need to watch their sodium intake.
“By checking the nutritional information of holiday foods, you can ensure that you are making choices that are appropriate for your individual health needs.”
We’ve found some of the most calorific treats of the high street supermarkets so you don’t have to…
Mince pies
Typically sitting at around 200 calories per mince pie, these mincemeat-filled pies often go hand in hand with a hot mulled wine or a cup of tea.
These mince pie options contain slightly more calories than most, however.
- ASDA Extra Special 4 Extra Indulgent Mince Pies
337 calories per pie
An orange zest-infused all-butter pastry filled with rich mincemeat infused with brandy and port.
- M&S 4 Brown Butter Mince Pies
248 calories per pie
Chewy cookie dough pastry, made with butter and caramelised butter oil and filled with lightly spiced classic mincemeat.
- M&S Collections Chocolate & Hazelnut Mince Pie
245 calories per pie
All-butter shortcrust pastry, deep filled with classic mincemeat and topped with a layer of chocolate, hazelnut filling, and caramelised hazelnuts.
Make your own mince pies
Fancy making your own ’healthier’ mince pies at home?
Riya said: “There are several ways to reduce the calorie count.
“Use alternative sweeteners like honey or maple syrup instead of sugar and swap out butter for applesauce or Greek yoghurt for treats like mince pies, chocolate yule log and Christmas cake.
“You can also use whole wheat flour instead of white flour to increase the fibre content.
“These small changes can make a big difference in the overall nutrient profile of your favourite treats.”
Christmas pudding
A dense sticky sponge laden with dried fruits, spices and often, brandy.
Here are some of the worst offenders in the Christmas pudding calorie stakes.
- Aldi Specially Selected Sticky Toffee Christmas Pudding, 800g
331 calories per ⅛ of a pudding
Spiced Christmas pudding made with vine fruits, dates, cider, fudge pieces, rum and brandy with a toffee sauce centre.
- The BAKERY at ASDA Christmas Pudding, 400g
343 calories per ¼ of a pudding
A six-month matured fruity pudding with a splash of Brandy.
- Sainsbury's Free From Christmas Pudding, Taste the Difference, 100g
342 calories per 100g serve
Christmas pudding made with vine fruits, cider, brandy, rum and almonds.
Panettone
This Italian Christmas cake consists of a sweet, light bread and usually comes in a dome shape. Within the dough you’ll find raisins and orange zest.
Although it’s light, it can pack a calorific punch. Plus, there are now a multitude of flavoured Panettone to choose from.
- Waitrose Christmas Mini Chocolate Panettone, 750g
381 calories per ⅛ of a cake
Made with dark chocolate chips, chocolate filling and a dark chocolate topping.
- M&S Triple Chocolate Panettone, 750g
378 calories per ⅛ of a cake
Enriched with egg, butter and white, milk and dark chocolate chips and an oozy chocolate sauce. Coated in dark chocolate and scattered with milk, dark and white chocolate chips.
- Tesco Finest Authentic Panettone, 750g
342 calories per ⅛ of a cake
A sweet and butter panettone with zesty, candied citrus peel.
Christmas Cake
A traditional Christmas cake is filled with fruits and nuts and gradually infused with brandy or whisky over several weeks.
Typically, it’s topped with icing too. Although it’s filled with fruit, some Christmas cakes can really pack in the calories.
- M&S Perfectly Matured Rich Fruit Cake, 1.63kg
300 calories per 1/20 of a cake
All butter fruit cake with plump vine fruit and nibbed almonds, laced with brandy.
- Tesco Finest Rich Fruit Cake, 907G
276 calories per 1/12 of cake
Fruit cake with glacé cherries, infused with Cognac and brandy, covered with marzipan, white icing and decorative icing.
- Iceland Top Iced Christmas Cake, 907g
284 calories per 1/12 of a cake
A fruit cake with sultanas, glacé cherries and mixed peel topped with marzipan and soft icing and hand finished with edible decoration.
Pre-made mulled wine
It doesn’t get much more Christmassy than a piping-hot glass of mulled wine.
To save time, you can buy pre-made mulled wine, but watch out for potential extra calories.
- M&S Red Mulled Wine
210 calories per 200ml
Rich and fruity red wine drink, flavoured with warming spices.
- Gluhwein By Felix Solis Mulled Wine
182 calories per 200ml
Made from traditional Spanish wine blended with festive dove and cinnamon spice.
- Sainsbury's Mulled Wine, Taste the Difference
214 calories per 200ml
A rich, warming mulled wine with citrus fruit flavours and spice.
Make your own mulled wine
You could make your own mulled wine, which Riya says can help avoid added sugar, preservatives and other added nasties that the shop bought versions tend to include.
She says: “Up the fruit content in mulled wine with extra oranges for sweetness resulting in less sugar being needed.
“You can also add extra nutmeg and cinnamon to your homemade eggnog as these are loaded with antioxidants.
“Making your own also can result in less booze as you can manage how much you add to your recipe for a healthier Christmas with less alcohol units consumed over all – never a bad thing.”
Chocolate yule log
The yule log is traditionally a cream filled swiss roll coated in chocolate.
- Tesco Finest Chocolate Woodland Log Cake
339 calories per 1/16 of a cake
Chocolate sponge cake filled and covered with a chocolate ganache, decorated with chocolate shavings and edible decorations.
Side coated in dark chocolate shavings and hand finished with a log design plaque and festive edible decorations.
- Morrisons The Best Hand Rolled Fudge Yule Log, 465g
292 calories per ⅛ of a cake
Generously filled with chocolate-flavoured buttercream and covered with a rich milk chocolate fudge icing.
- M&S Hand Decorated Chocolate Yule Log, 495g
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380 calories per ⅙ of a cake
A chocolate sponge roll filled with chocolate buttercream, covered in milk chocolate, coated with a chocolate fudge frosting and finished with a sugar dusting.
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