With just under 6 weeks to go before the man in the red suit arrives , this can only mean 1 thing, the start of the silly season. With the past 2 years not yielding much in the way of fun, this Christmas may be a time to loosen both the purse strings and the belt to make up for it.
We thought we'd take a little look at what the average calorific content of some of the more popular item consumed over the next few weeks..
Without doubt, many of you will be consuming a fair amount of alcohol. As a single unit, the numbers aren't too bad, but where's the fun in just 1?
Champagne:
The most common of drinks to celebrate with. The standard measure of a glass will contain roughly 95 calories. If one was to get slightly carried away and finish off the bottle, that would mean around 570 calories for the feat.
Mulled wine:
Not surprisingly, mulled wine shouldn't be consumed for those planning to start a diet, unless it's well into February the following year. Containing a mixture of wine, sugar, other spirits and of course fruit. This spicy combination on average can produce a glass containing up to 400 calories per serving.
Red wine:
For those who decide to take a slightly more conventional route, you will be happy to hear that a glass of red (large) has only 288 calories compared to the spicier cousin, meaning a bottle will only add around 632 calories to the calculator. For the red with the lowest calorie count, choose a Pinot Noir or Merlot
White wine:
A small glass of white wine has around 100 calories, while a large contains around 200 calories. A 750ml bottle of white wine contains around 600 calories on average. A white Riesling is usually a good choice for weight watchers as 150ml contains about 120 calories and about five carbs , then followed by a Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay.
Beer:
The most widely consumed alcohol is likely to be beer (and 3rd most popular drink overall after water and tea). The average pint of 5% strength beer will contain around 239 calories while a bottle of 330ml beer will have 172 calories and it's bigger brother at 500ml will contain 218 calories.
Which is more fattening beer or wine?
Generally, beer has more calories than wine, but the calorie difference in the two primarily comes from the leftover carbohydrates in beer, as the sugar content for most wines is fairly low. A single pint/bottle will be fine, but how often is just the 1, fine? Generally, spirits – including vodka, tequila, rum and gin – do not contain any carbohydrates or sugars.
What is the least fattening alcohol?
Vodka is the alcohol with the lowest calories, at around 100 calories per shot (that's a 50 ml double-measure). Whisky is slightly more, at roughly 110 calories a shot. Gin and tequila are also 110 calories a shot.
How can I drink without gaining weight?
The obvious answer is to only drink water (the only drink for those who are driving) , but that kind of defeats the purpose. The next suggestion is to consume Clear alcohols like vodka, gin and tequila which have lower caloric counts, but they're also easier to consume straight, with ice or with soda water, which means there won't be any added calories.
Calories on the big day..
Food:
Now that you have worked up an appetite celebrating like a rock star, it's now time to look at the solids we consume. Rather than look at the entire season, we have decided to look at the food consumed on Christmas day.
On average, researchers have found that on on December 25th alone the average British person consumes around 6,000 calories. With men generally needing around 2,500 calories and women requiring around 2,000 per day, this average mean that it's more than double the necessary calories needed. This figure takes in the hole day's eating, which generally includes the pre lunch nibbles and drinks, the roast, booze, and the post-dinner indulgences. Interestingly a survey from 2017 said that 29 per cent of people surveyed thought they would eat fewer than 3,000 calories over the course of the day.
General calorie breakdown:
Turkey, 225g of turkey = 480 calories.
Roast potatoes, at 200 calories each (10 potatoes X 200 = damage)
Stuffing has 200 calories.
1 serving mashed potatoes and gravy – 257 calories.
Vegetables are rich in fibre and other essential nutrients. One cup of boiled collard greens, drained and without added salt, contains : 63 calories. 5.15 g of protein.
These figures generally refer to consuming 1 portion only, but we know this often not the case.
Boxing day:
As we all know, Boxing day usually means much of the same as the day before, Having consumed more food/drink than is usually necessary, what better way to start the day by going for a brisk walk. A person weighing 12.5 stone will burn about 375 calories on a hour's walk. Upon you return, you'll feel refreshed and rejuvenated to repeat the ordeal all over again.
Conclusion:
What better way to celebrate the Christmas holiday by eating and drinking like a king... The new year follows in a weeks time, so you have a week to think about how to lose all your newly acquired calories.
Brett's view:
What would Christmas be without some over indulgence.. so enjoy the time and worry about the calories in the new year..
David's view:
Think Christmas is going to be a big one this year, especially as we were locked down last year. I am going to try and take it easy, but I am sure when the drinks start flowing I will just have to go with the flow !
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