The idea of a healthy Christmas might make you roll your eyes but it is a guarantee that almost everyone’s number one new year’s resolution is to lose weight.

Excess calories lurk at every corner at Christmas.

An excess of 500 calories could be as easy as a glass of wine, a bowl of nuts or a few sausage rolls.

On average it is estimated that people gain around 5lbs over the 4 week festive season.

Christmas day itself could tip to a humongous 6000 calories, that’s 3500 more than the average man eats in a day, almost two whole extra days’ worth of allotted calories for a healthy woman in one 24 hour period.

It is true that Christmas in a minefield of unhealthy sweets and chocolates, saturated fats and salt but it doesn’t have to be.

Seasonal vegetables and fruits that are packed with vitamins such as satsumas, dates, figs and cranberries are a great tasting and lighter alternative.

Keep an eye on the nuts, chestnuts are a brilliant alternative to salted peanuts, they are low in fat so nibble on these and leave the bowl of salted nuts.

Brazil and walnuts are great for potassium, calcium and magnesium not to mention vitamin E, and yes, whichever nuts are your favourite, if they are covered in chocolate then they are going to add the inches to your belt.

Do veg first!

Sprouts, beetroot, parsnips and celeriac are all in season and taste great roasted, if you can fill up your plate with meat and vegetables it leaves less room for energy dense foods such as mash and roasted potatoes.

Brussel sprouts are also a fantastic source of fibre, needed to keep the gut healthy.

But beware of overdoing it or else it could be a windy Boxing day in your house!

Photo: Robert Jemimus