Cut calories on the Christmas countdown

How it works

Ho, ho, ho! Christmas is coming – and a whopping two thirds of us go on a diet in the weeks before to get into a party dress or counteract the festive weight gain. We’ve devised the perfect plan to help you slim, including fish and chips, pizza and a roast dinner!

Getting started

Our plan includes three meals and two snacks a day. You can mix and match after week one. Just be sure you stick to the daily three meals and two snacks (see list below). Munch on crudités if you’re still hungry between meals. Drink at least 2ltrs of fluid daily, including water, herbal tea, low-cal squash, tea and coffee with semi-skimmed milk. No alcohol, sorry! Follow for a month to lose up to 1st.

Monday

Breakfast
1 poached egg, 1 Quorn sausage and 2 tbsp baked beans served with 1 slice of wholemeal toast with a small amount of low-fat spread.
Lunch
Any readymade salad of your choice under 400 cals.
Dinner
Tesco Mini Cheese & Tomato Pizza, 95g (or a pizza of your choice that’s under 100g), served with a salad of tomato, cucumber and lettuce. 1 apple.

Tuesday

Breakfast
30g porridge oats made with semi-skimmed milk. 1 pear.
Lunch
Medium jacket potato topped with a knob of low-fat spread and a handful of prawns mixed in 1tbsp low-fat mayo. Serve with lettuce, tomato and cucumber salad.
Dinner
Any ready meal under 400 calories

Wednesday

Breakfast
1 banana, apple and a handful of strawberries, chopped and topped with 1 small pot of low-fat yoghurt.
Lunch
Salmon and avocado salad mix: Shredded iceberg lettuce, cucumber, ½ avocado, cut into chunks and 60g smoked salmon, drizzled with lemon juice. 1 apple.
Dinner
Mustard chicken: Coat a chicken breast with 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp mustard, then roast with a couple of handfuls of peeled and diced potatoes drizzled with 1 tsp olive oil (use low-fat spray oil if extra needed). Add a portion of green beans and carrots.

Thursday

Breakfast
40g bran flakes with low-fat milk. 1 apple.
Lunch
Omelette: Mix ½ onion, ½ pepper, 1 tbsp sweetcorn, 100g cooked and cubed potatoes with two eggs and 1 egg white and cook with ½ tbsp olive oil.
Dinner
Fish kebabs: skewer chunks of cod fillet, vegetables and large prawns. Grill and serve with a cup of cooked wholegrain rice.

Friday

Breakfast
40g no added sugar muesli with semi-skimmed milk.
Lunch
2 slices of wholemeal bread topped with 20g grated low-fat Cheddar and toasted. 1 low-fat yoghurt.
Dinner
Vegetable curry: chop 1 courgette, carrot and 3 new potatoes, parboiled and halved, mix with 3 tbsp chickpeas, green beans, mushrooms and ½ jar Homepride Curry Cook In Sauce. Serve with a teacup of wholegrain rice

Saturday

Breakfast
2 crumpets with low-fat spread. 1 small glass of orange juice.
Lunch
Any sandwich under 300 calories. 1 banana.
Dinner
Fish and chips: 1 cod fillet roast in low-fat oven chips. 1 sugarfree jelly pot.

Sunday

Breakfast
2 slices of wholemeal toast with low-fat spread with marmalade or jam (1 tsp per slice). 1 apple.
Lunch
Sunday roast: 2 thin slices of roast beef, 1 small Yorkshire pud, 4 roast potatoes (using low-fat spray oil), cabbage, sprouts and a drizzle of gravy.
Dinner
1 bowl of vegetable soup with a wholemeal roll and a little lowfat spread. 1 banana.

Snacks

● Banana, apple and pear
● Bowl of strawberries and sugar-free jelly
● 2 Ryvitas with low-fat spread and salad
● Toasted crumpet with low-fat spread
● Low-fat yoghurt
● Pack of low-fat crisps
● Special K bar
● 25g popcorn
● Weight Watchers carrot cake slice
● 2 Jaffa Cakes