David Saunders
It’s that time of year again when “go on, it’s Christmas” becomes the nation’s most dangerous mantra — and those Christmas calories start piling up faster than wrapping paper on the living room floor. But ever wondered how much effort it actually takes to undo a festive feast?
The experts at Golf Support have done the hard work (and the maths), revealing exactly how many squats, burpees, lunges, planks, or minutes of jogging it would take to burn off Britain’s favourite Christmas foods. Spoiler alert: that slice of pudding is going to cost you.
After studying the top 15 most popular festive foods, Golf Support calculated the average calories per serving and translated them into exercise equivalents. The results are equal parts enlightening and horrifying for anyone facing down a heaving holiday table.
Topping the list as the most calorific culprit is Christmas Pudding, coming in at 305 calories per serving. To work that off, you’d need to do a staggering 1,445 squats, 460 burpees, 578 lunges, or 29 minutes of jogging. All that for one slice — and that’s before the custard.
Coming in hot (and wrapped in bacon) are Pigs in Blankets, boasting 280 calories per serving. Burning those Christmas calories means 1,350 squats, 430 burpees, or nearly half an hour of jogging. You might love them, but they certainly make you earn it.
In third place sits a festive buffet staple — Bread and Cheese — requiring around 945 squats to balance out, followed by Yorkshire Puddings in fourth. Rounding out the top five are Roast Potatoes, demanding a 17-minute jog to burn through a single serving.
At the lighter end of the list, Roasted Chestnuts take just 315 squats, while Candy Canes will cost you a mere five one-minute planks. And if you’re worried about those dreaded Brussels Sprouts, don’t be — a four-minute jog is all it takes to wipe them off the books.
| Food | Calories | Squats | Burpees | Lunges | Plank | Jogging |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Pudding | 305 | 1445 | 460 | 578 | 29 | 29 |
| Pigs in Blankets | 280 | 1350 | 430 | 532 | 27 | 27 |
| Bread and Cheese | 196 | 945 | 300 | 374 | 18 | 19 |
| Yorkshire Puddings | 191 | 900 | 298 | 360 | 18 | 18 |
| Roast Potatoes | 179 | 855 | 270 | 338 | 17 | 17 |
| Mince Pies | 177 | 851 | 270 | 332 | 17 | 17 |
| Gingerbread Men | 147 | 707 | 224 | 278 | 14 | 14 |
| Yule Log | 144 | 689 | 220 | 276 | 14 | 14 |
| Quality Street | 132 | 630 | 200 | 256 | 13 | 13 |
| Stuffing | 101 | 473 | 150 | 184 | 10 | 10 |
| Roasted Parsnips | 100 | 473 | 150 | 184 | 10 | 10 |
| Turkey | 70 | 360 | 110 | 138 | 7 | 7 |
| Roasted Chestnuts | 68 | 315 | 102 | 124 | 7 | 6 |
| Candy Canes | 50 | 248 | 80 | 100 | 5 | 5 |
| Brussel Sprouts | 45 | 225 | 70 | 82 | 5 | 4 |
It’s a playful reminder that every mince pie and extra helping of gravy comes with a price tag — not in pounds sterling, but in sweat. So whether you’re planning a guilt-free festive feast or just want to know what you’re in for come January, these figures put holiday indulgence into sharp perspective.
Because when it comes to Christmas calories, it seems the only thing heavier than the meal itself is the workout required to make them disappear.
