Count Those Christmas Calories

Overindulging during the festive period is as inevitable as the Oxford Street Christmas lights and a Boxing Day hangover. But just how devilish is that ninth mince pie or extra turkey sandwich? And how much of January will you need to spend jogging round the park in an effort to shift that merry bulge? Brixton based nutritional therapist, Jo Lewin, helps us balance the naughty with the nice.

Mince pies: 225 calories per pie, 9.7g fat. Burn off with: 60 minutes gardening

Pastry is very high in fat and mincemeat is often laden with sugar. It is a much better idea to make your own mince pies, as you can make smaller pies with a lattice-style top to cut back on pastry!

If you do fancy a spot of gardening then check out:

Hackney Harvest

Kew Gardens

Culpeper Community Garden

Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses

Roast turkey: 190 calories per 4oz serving, 4g fat. Burn off with: 60 minutes dancing

Turkey is a fantastic source of lean protein and high in the amino acid tryptophan. This amino acid is involved in the production of serotonin – a brain chemical that promotes feelings of wellbeing. Turkey is also high in selenium, B12, B6 and zinc, which are all great for skin.

Feel like rocking around more than just the Christmas tree? Well there are plenty of club nights and live music venues in London where you can strut your stuff. Or how about giving a set of dance classes as a present?

City Academy burlesque classes

Swing dance classes

Chocolate coins: 25 calories per coin, 1.5g fat. Burn off with: 10 minutes dog walking

Choose dark, 80% cocoa chocolate instead of milk or white chocolate. This is because dark chocolate is higher in antioxidants called flavonoids, which are good for the immune system, disease prevention and lowering blood pressure.

A long walk is just the ticket if you have been cooped up with family for too long. It clears the head and gets blood flowing. The best source of vitamin D is made in the skin from sunlight so take advantage of bright, sunny days with a walk in one of your favourite London parks.

London parks map

The Royal Parks

Brussels sprouts: 32 calories per serving, 1g fat. Burn off with: 5 minutes hiking

Low in fat, high in fibre, folic acid, vitamin C, K and beta carotene (which converts to vitamin A), Brussels sprouts are a really healthy  food to eat. They are also high in glucosinolate which is good for the liver, so pop a few more on your plate before getting stuck into the mulled wine.

Satsumas: 25 calories per fruit, 0.1g fat. Burn off with: 10 minutes trampolining

Satsumas are a lovely, low calorie sweet treat. They are good for topping up vitamin C levels and aid collagen production which promotes glowing skin, glossy hair and healthy nails. All in all, a perfect beauty enhancer for those festive parties.

Image by moonsetsky courtesy of Flickr