How many calories does Christmas lunch have?

During the festive season, a number of typical dishes are eaten, depending on the region, with very long meals usually consisting of many courses.
A Christmas lunch or dinner in Italy can vary from 2000 to 6000 Kcal. The range is very wide and varies not so much because one consumes pandoro rather than torrone or struffoli, but because of the quantities of the courses and the glasses of wine one drinks.

Example of Christmas Lunch

Appetisers

• Mixed cold meats and cheeses: 300-500 calories per portion.
• Canapés and savouries: 150-200 calories each.
• Sauté of mussels with croutons: 319 calories per portion
• Battered or fried vegetables: 200-300 calories per 100 g.

First courses

• Lasagne or cannelloni: 400-600 calories per portion
• Tortellini in broth: 425 calories per portion of about 180 g without counting grated cheese.
• Rich risottos (e.g. with saffron or seafood): 300-450 calories per portion (about 80 grams not counting grated cheese).

Main courses

• Roasts (meat or fish): 250-350 calories per portion.
• Side dishes (baked potatoes, mashed vegetables): 150-250 calories per portion.
• Stewed eel/bowl: a very fatty meat with 461 calories per portion

Sweets

• Panettone or Pandoro: 350-450 calories per slice (80 g) excluding any creams.
• Traditional nougat: 120-150 calories per 30 g.
• Chocolates and other sweets: 50-100 calories each.

Beverages and spirits

• Wine and sparkling wine: 70-100 calories per glass (200ml approx)
• Liqueurs: 100-150 calories per glass (40ml).

Total calories of a Christmas lunch

A complete meal with starter, main course, side dish, dessert and drinks can easily reach

• 2,500-3,000 calories, if you don’t control your portions and include a lot of foods high in fat and sugar. However, do not be discouraged: managing calories during the holidays is possible by taking a more conscious approach and being careful not to overindulge on several consecutive days. A small daily effort can help you enjoy Christmas without compromising your well-being.

How many calories do typical Christmas sweets have?

Every region has its own typical dishes starting with the dessert. There are many ‘modern’ versions of these cakes that can be bought, but for which we can simply read the nutrition label.

• Panettone: 360kcal per 100g (mainly fat and sugar)
• Pandoro: 400kcal per 100g (mainly sugars and carbohydrates)
• Nougat: 170kcal per 30g in the traditional variant with almonds
• Struffoli: 60kcal per 16g (one cup) depending on how much honey and candied fruit you’ve abounded in!
• Buccellato: 440kcal per 100g also here the doses of honey and candied fruit make the difference.
• Ricciarelli: 125kcal per piece of about 30g
• Panpepato: 224kcal per 50 grams