Enjoy Your Christmas Treats for Fewer Calories

Tasty calories tempt us from all directions at Christmas. A minefield for people trying to lose weight or minimise weight gain over the festive season. As the saying goes, ‘I can resist anything but temptation’.   

So how do you have a very Merry without piling on the pounds or being a party pooper?

To help with damage limitation, we went shopping at six major supermarkets to look for the calorie highs and lows of popular Christmas sweet treats.

We looked at calories in mince pies, Christmas cake, Christmas pudding, Yule logs, Pannetone and Stollen. What was encouraging was that most of the supermarkets we looked at have reduced the calories slightly in some of their products in comparison to last year!

At the bottom of the list you'll find some extra treats that are 'reasonably' low in calories. (We say reasonably because let's be honest, we know Christmas treats are going to be calorific!)

We have used the recommended serving sizes as stated by the manufacturer. However, there is nothing stopping you having a smaller portion to save a few more calories.

Mince Pies

If you're partial to a mince pie (or few) over the festive season, you could be adding quite a few extra calories. Luckily most of the big supermarkets have seen the light and now most offer mini mince pies. We think this is a geat idea - so long as you stop at one!

 

	Instead of this...	Try this...
Tesco	Finest Mince Pies 251 calories per pie	Finest Mini Mince Pies 82 calories per pie
Sainsburys	Deep Filled Mince Pies 235 calories per pie	All Butter Mini Mince Pies, Taste the Difference 98 calories per pie
Asda	Extra Special Luxury Mince Pies 244 calories per pie	WLR RECOMMENDS! Extra Special Luxury Mini Mince Pies 81 calories per pie
Morrisons	The Best Deep Filled Mince Pies 218 calories per pie	The Best Mini Mince Pies 121 calories per pie
Waitrose	Shortcrust Mince Pies 237 calories per pie	No.1 Mini All Butter Mince Pies 111 calories per pie
Aldi	Specially Selected All Butter Classic Mince Pies 234 calories per pie	Specially Selected All Butter Classic Mini Mince Pies 109 calories per pie
Mr Kipling	Deep Filled Mince Pies 249 calories per pie	Mini Mince Pie Selection 120 calories per pie

If you stop for a coffee, take care - Costa’s Mince Tart will set you back 329 cals! It is a bit of a beast at 86g, so you could share one with a friend for 165 calories each instead.

 

Christmas Cake

Christmas Cake is heavy on the calories. So, if you want to have your cake and eat it, what can you do? You could try having a smaller portion than recommended on the pack. After all, it is the first few bites that taste the best, especially when you're eating cakes and puddings. Or have a look at alternatives to a big single cake. Bars, slices and bites all help keep portions in check.

	Instead of this...	Try this...
Tesco	Finest Mini Iced Christmas Cake 284 calories per half cake	Finest Rich Christmas Cake 182 calories per slice
Sainsburys	Frosty Snowflake Iced Christmas Cake, Taste the Difference 278 calories per slice	Iced Rich Christmas Cake, Taste the Difference 241 calories per slice
Asda	Extra Special Brandy Soaked Fully Iced Fruit Cake 284 calories per slice	Iced Fruit Cake 237 calories per slice
Morrisons	Christmas Fully Iced Tree Cake 236 calories per slice	Rich Fruit Christmas Cake Slices 180 calories per slice
Waitrose	Richly Fruited Christmas Cake 284 calories per slice	WLR RECOMMENDS! Christmas Iced Fruit Cake Bites 54 calories per bite
Aldi	Holly Lane Top Iced Christmas Cake 274 calories per slice	Holly Lane Top Iced Fruit Cake Bar 177 calories per slice

 

Christmas Puddings

Christmas pud is normally very high in calories because of the alcohol and richness. The wlr foodies were surprised that, in some cases, the luxury range puddings fared better than the others. Individual puddings were lower in calories than a recommended serving of their larger counterparts. Here's our findings...

	Instead of this...	Try this...
Tesco	Finest Christmas Pudding 329 calories per serving	Christmas Pudding 301 calories per serving
Sainsburys	Cognac Laced 18 Month Matured Individual Christmas Pudding, Taste the Difference 337 calories per pudding	Hidden Cherry Centre Christmas Pudding, Taste the Difference 275 calories per serving
Asda	Extra Special 9 Month Matured Luxury Christmas Pudding 390 calories per serving	Individual Extra Special 9 Month Matured Luxury Christmas Pudding 344 calories per pudding
Morrisons	The Best Christmas Pudding 318 calories per serving	No option - try a smaller slice 344 calories per pudding
Waitrose	No.1 Cherry & Almond Christmas Pudding 342 calories per serving	Richly Fruited Christmas Pudding 320 calories per pudding
Aldi	Specially Selected 30 Month Matured Christmas Pudding 391 calories per serving	Specially Selected Rich & Fruity Christmas Pudding 329 calories per serving

Or try making your own using wlr's Low Calorie Christmas Pudding Recipe with just 219 calories per portion.

 

Yule Log

If your Christmas tea table isn’t complete without a Yule Log, you may want to keep a close eye on your serving size. Have a slice of Morrison's Chocolate Fudge Yule Log and yule be adding 292 calories to your day... But it sure looks good!

	Instead of this...	Try this...
Tesco	Finest Belgian Chocolate Yule Log 257 calories per slice	Chocolate Yule Log 134 calories per slice
Sainsburys	Milk Chocolate Yule Log, Taste the Difference 256 calories per slice	Chocolate Yule Log 137 calories per slice
Asda	Extra Special Luxury Belgian Chocolate Frosted Yule Log 255 calories per slice	Christmas Yule Log 143 calories per slice
Morrisons	The Best Chocolate Fudge Yule Log 292 calories per slice	WLR RECOMMENDS! Try a smaller slice!

 

Stollen

A slice of Stollen can add a massive 399 calories (Kuchenmeister Marzipan Stolen). If you're looking for an easy way to keep on track but still have a little of what you fancy opt for Stollen bites and have one or two. (Maybe, just the one if you shop in Asda!) If bites aren't available, go for the slices.

Morrisons don't currently offer Stollen Bites in their Christmas range - try cutting the slices into 2 or 3 bite sized pieces instead!

	Instead of this...	Try this...
Tesco	Finest Cherry and Almond Stollen Slices 267 calories per slice	Stollen Bites Slices 146 calories per slice
Sainsbury's	Fruit & Nut Topped Stollen, Taste the Difference 262 calories per slice	Stollen Slices, Taste the Difference 136 calories per slice
Asda	Extra Special Caramel Stollen 168 calories per slice	Stollen Slices 196 calories per slice
Morrisons	Stollen Cake Slices 119 calories per slice	Morrisons don't currently sell any bites - why not try cutting a slice into two or three bites?
Waitrose	Christmas Stollen 186 calories per slice	WLR RECOMMENDS!   Christmas Stollen Bites 71 calories per bite
Aldi	Specially Selected Stollen 248 calories per slice	Specially Selected Stollen Bites 88 calories per bite

 

Panettone

For those of you who feel it's not Christmas without a Panettone, you might want to rethink. All of the Panettones we looked at were quite high in calories. A Mini Panettone from Sainsbury's is a shocking 376 calories per cake! Obviously, if you can't do without, you could just eat half a serving and halve the calories too.

	Instead of this...	Try this...
Tesco	Finest Amaretto Panettone 332 calories per slice	Panettone 320 calories per slice
Sainsbury's	Mini Panettone 376 calories per cake	Panettone 231 calories per slice
Asda	Il Vecchio Forno Classic Panettone 100g 365 calories per cake	Il Vecchio Forno Classic Panettone 500g 356 calories per slice
Waitrose	Waitrose Christmas Fruited Panettone 750g 337 calories per slice	Waitrose Christmas Fruited Panettone 500g 303 calories per slice

 

Fancy something different?

All of the supermarkets we checked out have a large range of Christmas goodies – all very calorific. We don’t want you to have to go without though so, we have taken a look at some of our favourites and have found 3 items from each supermarket that come in under 200 calories per portion. You really don’t have to deprive yourself this Christmas. Everything in moderation!

Tesco

Sainsbury’s

Asda

Morrisons

Waitrose

Aldi

If you are trying to watch the calories this Christmas, introduce some of our swaps and you can still have some of the lovely treats without seriously breaking the calorie bank!