The 7 reasons why Christmas dinner is actually good for you (but only if eat your Brussels sprouts)

Who cares how many miles you have to run to work off a mince pie? It's only one day a year!

And in any case, Christmas dinner isn't that unhealthy.

In fact, there are some surprising and reassuring health benefits to tucking into the best roast dinner of the year.

Sophie Dhillon is a nutritionist at Fresh Fitness Food, and she tells The Sun that Christmas Dinner can be a pretty nutritious meal – both physically and mentally:

1. It's got the perfect balance of nutrients

"We obtain nutrients from the three macronutrients: protein, carbs and fats which our body requires in large quantities," Sophie explains.

"Whilst many fret that Christmas dinner will send them off track, it can actually provide us with a perfectly balanced plate in terms of macronutrients.

"Turkey provides us with a lean source of protein, approximately 17g per 100g meat, while our delicious roasties are a great whole food source of carbohydrate.

"Add to this a spoonful of your favourite stuffing packed with nuts which are full of Omega-3 fatty acids, and you have yourself a deliciously balanced festive plate!"

2. Turkey is full of vitamins and minerals

"Not only is turkey one of the leanest sources of animal protein but it’s also packed full of vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, potassium and phosphorus; as well as vitamin B6 and niacin, which are essential for the body’s production of energy."

3. Brussel sprouts are really high in protein

Love 'em or hate 'em, Brussel sprouts are really good for you.

Sophie says: "Brussel sprouts are surprisingly high in protein for a cruciferous vegetable and contain large amount of vitamin C and vitamin K."

4. Carrots contain eye-friendly vitamins

Not a very interesting part of the meal, granted, but carrots do contain a load of beta-carotene – a precursor for vitamin A, which is necessary for good eye health.

5. Cranberry sauce is a great source of vitamin C

Cranberries are packed with vitamins C, A and K. They can also lower cholesterol and boost your immune system and are known to contain proanthocyanidins (PACs), an antioxidant that may help prevent a range of diseases.

And bizarrely, they're also thought to help prevent gum disease because, according to researchers at the Center for Oral Biology and Eastman Department of Dentistry at the University of Rochester Medical Center, they prevent bacteria from binding to the teeth.

The obvious caveat to that is that you've got to try avoiding making your sauce with a tonne of sugar – and most supermarket sauces contain loads.

6. Chocolate is full of antioxidants

OK, we might not be talking about chomping your way through an entire box of Quality Street but dark chocolate is genuinely quite good for you.

"The best thing to do is to follow your dinner up with a square (or several!) of your favourite chocolate," says Sophie.

"If you’re still looking to obtain nutrients wherever possible, we recommend opting for dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains a higher content of cacao, which contains powerful antioxidants called flavanols."

Why not pick a high-cacao (85 per cent minimum) when you're cooking your Christmas desserts – that way you're getting a lovely, rich flavour and benefitting from the nutritional benefits.

7. It's great for your mental health

This is really the main thing.

We're so stressed out all year and many of us worry about our weight for 364 days of the year. So for this one day of family feasting, just don't worry about it.

"Since there is no reason to rush at Christmas, we can finally allow ourselves to take our time over each meal and to digest," says Sophie.

"Mindfulness is a technique that is gaining increased traction, and can be applied to most areas of life, including eating. We are used to rushing from meeting to meeting, grabbing lunch and possibly dinner on the go.

"The issue with this is that you are more likely to overeat if eating while distracted, and may not recognise the signals that you are full. Christmas allows us to take a moment to eat our meals without distraction, this includes; electronics, work and errands."

So take a picture of your Christmas table then switch your phone off and just enjoy being with your loved ones.

Enjoy a day of eating for what it is – one day – and don't worry.

There's plenty of time to get back on the bandwagon in the new year.

issue with this is that you are more likely to overeat if eating while distracted, and may not recognise the signals that you are full. Christmas allows us to take a moment to eat our meals without distraction, this includes; electronics, work and errands.

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