Top tips to cut calories on your Christmas dinner

A traditional Christmas lunch can pack a hefty 1,500 calories. Here are a few great tips to cut calories on Christmas day without going on a diet.

By Anita Bean, Registered nutritionistPublished: 21 November 2014

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Remove turkey skin

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Turkey skin is where most of the fat is. Opt for breast meat without the skin instead of a leg with the skin on.

SAVE: 126 cals a portion

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Low-fat gravy

For lower-fat gravy, put all the turkey juices into a jug, then carefully pour or spoon off the fat before making your gravy. Alternatively, invest in a gravy separator, which will split the fat and meat juices so you can pour a sin-free version over your roast.

SAVE: 30 cals per 1tbsp

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Low-fat stuffing

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Rather than using pure sausage meat, make stuffing balls with equal amounts of sausage meat, chopped chestnuts and onions. Stir together well, flavour with plenty of thyme, then bake at 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6 for 25min.

SAVE: 70 cals per 80g ball

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Healthy roast veg

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Instead of roast potatoes, toss chunks of carrots, parsnips and swede with 1tsp olive oil and roast at 200°C (180°C fan) mark 6 for 30min.

SAVE: 204 calories a portion

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Healthy sprouts

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Serve sprouts and carrots with chopped fresh herbs or lemon zest instead of butter.

SAVE 112: cals a portion

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Low-fat pigs in blankets

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Can’t resist pigs in blankets? Wrap a half-rasher of bacon around a mini reduced-fat sausage.

SAVE: 100 cals a sausage

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Low-fat Christmas pudding

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Serve Christmas pudding with 0% Total Greek Yoghurt instead of double cream.

SAVE : 118 cals per 2tbsp

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Remove the icing

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Have your Christmas cake and eat it! Just remove the icing and marzipan.

SAVE: 150 cals per slice

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