The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and, of course, plenty of delicious food. But have you ever wondered just how many calories you consume during Christmas celebrations? On average, people tend to eat around 6,000 calories on Christmas Day alone.1 With all the rich dishes, desserts, and festive drinks, those extra calories can add up quickly.
Our Christmas Calories Calculator helps you get a better idea of your holiday intake. The calorie content is next to each food item to help you be more strategic in your choice of snacks and Christmas treats. For example, you might want to keep an eye on calorie-dense beverages such as eggnog.
Weight gain during the festive season can account for more than half of the total weight gained during the year. While some reports suggest that Americans gain about 5 pounds during the holiday season, a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found it may be less. However, that study also reported that this weight gain is often not reversed in the spring or summer, and may lead to a gradual increase of 15–30 pounds over the years.23
Practicing balance at Christmas, isn’t about leaving the party to do an intense hour-long workout. Going for brisk walks with family after meals or jumping rope for 5 minutes is invigorating, helps to stabilize blood sugar levels, and burns calories – as is dancing with friends or family on Christmas or New Year’s Eve. In other words, have fun, enjoy yourself, savor the food, and embrace the festive spirit. Because Christmas is about joy, connection, and making memories with loved ones.
Check as many Christmas food items (column on the right) as you want! The portion sizes are one serving (e.g. 3 oz of turkey), if you’re going back for seconds, tally up your totals again.
