The drink and snack swaps to make to save you hundreds of calories this Christmas (but still have fun)

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Mince pies with brandy cream, Bailey’s hot chocolates, pigs in blankets, cheese courses and bottomless champagne; indulging in delicious treats and tipples has become part and parcel of a jolly Christmas.

But festive feasting can also be guilt-ridden when you have a wellness goal in mind for the New Year or if you struggle with food noise. It’s not the time to count calories, but having an awareness of how much you’re really consuming is never a bad thing.

A recent survey found that on average, 64% of UK drinkers consume more throughout December. Between two adults this equates to around 1.73 bottles of wine, 10.2 cans of beer and 1 cocktail per week during Christmas, totalling roughly 25,673 calories.

Aside from what lies inside your wine fridge, alternating lighter balanced meals with indulgent ones will help you really enjoy the festive period; it’s all about finding the best of both. These are the top low calorie saving swaps you can make this Christmas, without having to sacrifice any flavour – or joy.

The lighter hot chocolate

There’s nothing nicer than snuggling up on the sofa with a mug of steaming hot cocoa when it’s freezing outside. My favourite low calorie hack is to substitute decadent brews for Options Belgian Hot Chocolate instead. Typically containing around 40 calories per mug when prepared with just hot water, Options is a significantly lighter alternative compared to a standard hot chocolate made with milk, which can sit around the 225 calorie mark. I can confirm it tastes just as good and it’s gluten free too. If you’re feeling extra, add a squirt of low-fat cream and a few marshmallows.

Swap mayonnaise for fat free Greek yoghurt

This is a great hidden hack for reducing calories and boosting protein in creamy recipes like chicken salad, dips, dressings – or even in your leftover Turkey sandwich on boxing day. Not only does 0% fat Greek yoghurt boost gut health and increase the feeling of fullness (thanks to the high protein percentage) but it tastes just as rich, thick and satisfying as mayonnaise. And you’re really cutting back; 1 tablespoon of Hellmann’s real mayonnaise contains around 100 calories as opposed to 1 tablespoon of 0% fat greek yoghurt, which contains around 9. For a tangier finish just add a touch of mustard and whatever seasonings you like best (salt and pepper never fails) or for a thinner consistency add lashings of oil.

The healthier (tasty) wine swap

It’s easy to breeze over the amount of booze you’re drinking at Christmas. I’ve had a week of social events centred around meeting at the pub, in bars or over alcohol-fuelled dinners. For sipping at home, try DrinkWell. This outlet supplies lighter-calorie wines and beers that have less of the nasties but the same amount of alcohol as other tipples; its wines range from 9% – 13% in ABV, whilst its beers sit between 3%-5%. I find Pink traces particularly delicious; it’s dry, fruity and crisp rather than sweet, not to mention it’s only 78 calories per 125ml (average small glass) and pairs wonderfully with smoked salmon. Cheers to that.

Popped crisps vs deep fried

Forget the boring urge to replace crisps with nuts. Thanks to being cooked with heat and pressure instead of oil, popped crisps are nutritionally better than your average packet of salty snacks. The British Heart Foundation dietician, Victoria Taylor, says, ‘baked crisps are lower in fat than standard crisps per 100g and are lower in calories, too. But keep an eye on the portion size as a ‘healthier version’ of a standard product doesn’t mean you can eat as much of it as you like.’ The most flavoursome popped snack on supermarket shelves has to be Popchips. They’re a real crowd pleaser being light, but gratifying and they also pair fabulously with hummus.

Cottage cheese – on everything!

This seventies dairy relic has been doing the rounds again since the likes of Emily English – known as ‘Em the Nutritionist’ to her 2.1M Instagram followers – started incorporating it into her easy healthy recipes back in 2024. Today, it’s become a firm part of the foodie scene; on TikTok there are 235.6M ‘cottage cheese recipe’ posts. Over the festive period it makes for an excellent substitute for cream; blend it into a chocolate mousse with dark chocolate, maple syrup and cocoa powder. But generally it has a myriad of uses; whip it up and serve it on blinis with figs; add it to scrambled eggs for an extra protein hit; blitz it with eggs and bake it to create a low carb, gluten free flatbread or pizza base or simply use it as a toast topper. Most supermarkets have their own, ultra-affordable versions, but the nicest comes from Alter Ego. It’s seriously creamy, moreish and boasts 20g of protein per tub. And it’s less than £2 for 200ml.

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