Embargoed: 00:01 Friday 24 December 2021
As Brits make preparations for Christmas lunch tomorrow, the TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA) has calculated what a public health puritan approved Christmas lunch would look like.
Strict guidelines endorsed by the NHS and other public health bodies set a limit of six grams of salt, 30 grams of sugar, and 25 grams of saturated fats per person per day. Following these rules, an adult could enjoy the following on Christmas Day:
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CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESEARCH
What Christmas Day ‘should’ look like:
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Breakfast, which includes a quarter slice of toast with two teaspoons of strawberry jam, a quarter of a flute of champagne with a tenth of a glass (15ml) of orange juice.
-
Lunch, which includes three thin slices of turkey (cooked with no salt), garnished with two tablespoons of red cabbage and one pig in blanket. One tenth of a medium glass of red wine to accompany.
-
Pudding, which includes three quarters of a teaspoon of Christmas pudding with three quarters of a teaspoon of custard.
- And finally, one cream cracker with 7.5 grams of brie as an evening snack.
|
Items |
Approved amount |
|
Breakfast |
|
|
Croissant |
Quarter of a croissant |
|
Cereal |
15 grams (half a bowl of cereal) |
|
Bread |
quarter slice |
|
Butter |
Five grams, half ration |
|
Strawberry jam |
Two teaspoons |
|
Celebrations mini-chocolate |
Quarter of a chocolate |
|
Orange juice |
Tenth of a glass |
|
Champagne |
Quarter of a glass |
|
Lunch |
|
|
Turkey |
Half serving, three small thin slices |
|
Gravy |
A quarter of a pot |
|
Cranberry sauce |
Eighth of a tablespoon |
|
Bread sauce |
Eighth of a tablespoon |
|
Roast potatoes |
Four and a half roast potatoes |
|
Pigs in blankets |
One pig in blanket |
|
Brussels sprouts |
Five Brussels sprouts |
|
Red cabbage with apple |
Two tablespoons, a fifth of a portion |
|
Carrots |
25 grams (quarter-portion) |
|
Parsnips |
50 grams (half-portion) |
|
Goose fat (cooking) |
Two teaspoons |
|
Additional salt (cooking) |
None |
|
Wine |
Tenth of a glass |
|
G&T |
Tenth of a glass |
|
Pudding |
|
|
Christmas pudding |
Three quarters of a teaspoon |
|
Brandy cream |
One tablespoon |
|
Custard |
Three quarters of a teaspoon |
|
Port |
Two fifths of a glass |
|
Evening snacks |
|
|
Brandy |
Third of a measure |
|
Cream crackers |
One cracker |
|
Brie |
7.5g |
|
Stilton |
22.5g |
|
Nuts |
15g-half serving |
|
Pate |
17g-half serving |
|
Crisps |
30g |
|
Mince pie |
20th of a mince pie |
|
Turkey sandwich |
Quarter of a sandwich |
CLICK HERE TO READ THE RESEARCH
Tom Ryan, researcher at the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
“Taxpayer-funded public health Tsars tell us what to eat, drink and how to spend our leisure time all year long.
“If they had it their way, our festive feasts would be nothing but Brussels sprouts and boiled veg, followed by a meagre sliver of Christmas pudding.
“I wonder if public health officials will practise what they preach and follow their own overbearing guidelines this Christmas.”
TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Media contact:
Danielle Boxall
Media Campaign Manager, TaxPayers' Alliance
[email protected]
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Notes to editors:
-
Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) campaigns to reform taxes and public services, cut waste and speak up for British taxpayers. Find out more at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
- TaxPayers' Alliance's advisory council.