13 Christmas food favourites that aren’t worth the calories

Skip these holiday party foods that just aren’t worth the sugar, calories and kilos they’ll pack on.

Eggnog is full of saturated fat, says Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN of US-based Maya Feller Nutrition.

That’s mainly because it consists of whole milk and heavy cream. “It also serves up a good dose of sugar, as much as five teaspoons per one cup serving,” Feller adds.

Instead of eggnog, she recommends an eggnog latte with a non-dairy base (like almond milk) and no added sugar.

You can also use non-dairy milks in your Christmas baking. Check out these Christmas baking hacks.

This one is a little confusing because, in their natural state, potatoes offer a good variety of nutrients, says Neda Varbanova of Healthy with Nedi, who has a master’s in food studies and is a certified culinary nutritionist, holistic health coach, and recipe creator.

But mashed potatoes often come with butter, sour cream, and heavy cream, which adds too much saturated fat to the dish.

Varbanova says to try cauliflower mash instead, using Greek yogurt in place of heavy cream and butter.

Can’t do without your mash? This plain mash is flavoured with a hint of bay and enriched with a little olive oil instead of butter.

“Traditional glazed ham can be made with corn syrup, sugar, honey, butter and lots of salt,” says Feller.

“One serving can contain as much as 1,230 mg, of sodium, and that’s almost half of your day’s allotment.”

For a low-sodium swap, roast or slow cook a fresh pork butt and use vinegar in place of salt.

Season well with garlic, onion, herbs, and even some fresh-squeezed orange juice for a hint of sweetness recommends Feller.

The best thing about Christmas ham is eating the leftovers for the next few days – especially in this salad.

Even a small scoop of macaroni and cheese can clock an entire meal’s worth of sodium and calories, says Varbanova.

“This is a zero-nutrition kind of dish and is full of ingredients that will leave you feeling bloated for the next few days,” she adds.

Make pasta with a dairy-free sauce instead, such as a pureed butternut squash sauce.

Macaroni and cheese is one of those comfort foods that makes you feel better every time you eat it.

This common fixture on the appetizer tray can have up to 21 grams of saturated fat, surpassing the recommended daily amount for a healthy diet.

Instead, says Feller, make the dip with frozen unsalted artichoke (or rinse the ones from a jar), and frozen, unsalted spinach.

Swap the cream cheese and mayo for plain 2 percent yogurt and reduce the portion of cheddar and Parmesan by half.

Now you can have your dip and eat it too.

Spinach not your thing? This quick and tasty dip is made from canned butter beans puréed with tomato paste, garlic and fresh basil leaves.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), one cup of store-bought Swedish meatballs can have more than 400 calories.

Made with butter, cream, white bread, and salty broth, they might look friendly from a portion control standpoint, but popping even a few of these can do more damage than it’s worth.

You’re better off serving real meatballs with fresh ingredients.

Chicken mince and mushrooms make succulent meatballs – take a look at the recipe here.

This is an example of taking a perfectly healthy side and making it very unhealthy.

Adding butter, cheese, fried onions, and in some cases condensed cream-laden soup will swing the sodium of this dish to scary levels.

Stick with sauteed green beans without the add-ons.

Or this delicious and light, refreshing tuna and green bean salad.

“Pecans are naturally a high-calorie nut on their own, so throw a bunch of sugar, butter, and corn syrup in and you’re just asking for a cocktail of calories and fat,” says Varbanova.

“Just one slice of this pie typically has over 500 calories.” Instead, she says, make a crumble such as apple or rhubarb.

Or you could try pecan date power balls, recommends Feller: Combine a handful of dates, pecans, a dash of sea salt, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of cinnamon in a food processor.

Roll into balls, refrigerate overnight, and serve as a bite-sized dessert.

Or you could knock up this delicious apple and rhubarb pie.

“The added sugar is the major culprit in canned cranberry sauce,” says Feller.

“One serving has 6 teaspoons of added sugar.”

Make your cranberry juice by using whole cranberries and sweetening with fresh orange juice for a natural sweetness.