How Your Christmas Day Feast Contained As Many Calories As 23 Big Macs!

Bubbly for breakfast, morning mince pies, mid-afternoon mulled wine, a stuffing sandwich and glass of Baileys before bed...

A study, undertaken by Wren Kitchens, found the average British person consumed 5,906 calories on Christmas Day — well above the recommended 1,600 to 2,400 calories suggested for women and 2,000 to 3,000 for men.

Incidentally, it isn't the Christmas dinner itself which piles up the calories, but the snacks, sweets and beverages which begin to tot up.

The near 6,000 calorie intake is equivalent to:

• 23 Big Macs
• 118 Chicken McNuggets
• 27 Mars Bars
• 22 Six-inch grilled chicken Subway sandwiches

Here's a breakdown of where the calories come from based on average portion sizes. Side note: we're not trying to say you gorged on everything listed!

Christmas Dinner (956 calories)

• Roast turkey (149 calories)
• Roast potatoes (127 calories)
• Stuffing (231 calories)
• Bread sauce (42 calories)
• Roast parsnips (102 calories)
• Boiled carrots (14 calories)
• Boiled Brussels sprouts (32 calories)
• Gravy (17 calories)
• Cranberry sauce (45 calories)
• Pork sausage (62 calories)
• Bacon (135 calories)

 Sweet treats and snacks...

• One slice of Christmas cake (249 calories)
• One portion of chocolate log (101 calories)
• Christmas pudding with cream (587 calories)
• Mince pie and cream (368 calories)
• Three Quality Street (133 calories)
• Average selection box (1,115 calories)
• One portion of cheese and biscuits (394 calories)

Beverages...

• One pint of premium lager (330 calories)
• One pint of cider (200 calories)
• Large glass (250ml) of average strength red wine (214 calories)
• Large glass of medium dry white wine (190 calories)
• A bottle of average strength red wine  (644 calories)
• A bottle of medium dry white wine (570 calories)
• One Large (100ml) Bailey’s (320 calories)
• One shot (25ml) of vodka or gin (55 calories)
   

Brits are estimated to have gained about five to seven pounds and eaten close to 210g of fat on Christmas day. 

Most people ate a quarter of those calories even before they tucked into their festive lunch.

But the survey by Wren Kitchens also revealed more than half of Brits don't bother calorie counting at Christmas, with many seeing the festive period as a 'get out of jail free card' to eat whatever they want.

Tips to avoid over-indulging...

The Protein Works has issues advice on avoiding an unwanted New Year bulge.

No eating after 8pm — Give your body the chance to digest all of the food it's absorbed by having at least 12 hours without consuming calories.
Don't provide a starter — As you're about to eat a massive meal, why ruin your appetite with a starter?
Go for turkey — The lowest calorie festive meat has less than 150 calories in an average portion.

While 6,000 calories is certainly a lot to most people, it's worth remembering that Britain's Strongest Man, Tom Stoltman, consumes around 14,000 on an average day (or at least that's what I tell myself as gravy drips onto my lap!)

Let us know if you count calories or let loose during the festive season, and share any tips you have for those now feeling the Boxing Day bloat.