
It's the most wonderful time of the year, full of festive cheer and the promise of sumptuous and indulgent Christmas feasts.

From turkey to roast and mashed potatoes, stuffing and all the trimmings, the traditional Christmas day dinner is a event in households the world over.

In Japan the traditional feast comprises a festive cake, as well as a KFC take out, while in Australia BBQ prawns, lobster and steak are the order of the day.

And while it is a time of year that all should indulge in a little treat, experts warn it is important to keep a track of the calories you're taking in over the course of the festive period.

Dr Wayne Osborne of treated.com, has compiled a list of 28 nations where Christmas is celebrated, and compared the typical festive feast in terms of calorific intake.

He said: 'Christmas is undoubtedly a time of great ceremony.

'Every household has its own rituals when it comes to the big day, but I'm sure I speak for most of us when I say that the true main event of festivities is Christmas lunch.

The map reveals how Americans and Brits consume on average around 3,500 calories on Christmas Day, before alcohol is taken into account. Meanwhile those people living in Japan, Lithuania and the Czech Republic are likely to enjoy a 'healthier' holiday feast, with between 1,400 and 2,000 calories. Dr Wayne Osborne of treated.com urged people to keep a track of their calorie intake this Christmas

'In the UK it is a meal we take incredibly seriously. Preparation customarily begins very early on Christmas morning, but the process of ordering and buying ingredients may start days or even weeks earlier.

'Everyone has their own interpretation of what should make it to the table and what shouldn't, and it's a subject over which I've seen many a heated debate erupt.

'However, whatever their constituents, one aspect nearly all British festive lunches have in common is their high calorie content.

'Christmas is the one time above all others throughout the year that we like to overindulge, and this is reflected in our volume of consumption.'

The average Christmas feast that adorns tables across the UK packs in a staggering 3,289 calories - just two calories fewer than the holiday spread enjoyed by the average American.

However, there are countries across the world, where Christmas dinner is a healthier affair.

The Christmas Day feast league table ranks the 28 nations from worst to best in terms of calorie count

Dr Osborne told Daily Mail Online: 'It may not surprise you to learn that interpretations of Christmas food vary strikingly across Europe, and the world.

'Some interpretations do contain dishes which are high in saturates and guaranteed to drive up cholesterol levels, but a select few do make room for healthier alternatives.'

His research found that while the US tops the calorific leader board with the UK and Ireland in joint second place, Japan's traditional fare since the 1970s - a KFC takeaway - was healthiest, with just 1,400 calories per person.

France takes the third spot with an average of 3,217 calories, while Lithuania, where Christmas Eve dinner is traditionally a modest affair, is the healthiest spread in Europe.

While not wanting to be a Scrooge, Dr Osborne warned 'consuming large amounts of fatty, sugary food in short order is a recipe for poor health'.

High blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes and obesity 'are all likely outcomes of persistent bad dietary habits'.

He added: 'The argument can of course be made that Christmas only comes once a year, what one person consumes at the Christmas table is not necessarily an indication of what they will eat on a habitual basis.

'But this amount of calories even as a one-off meal does still take some shifting, and this is undoubtedly something to keep in mind.'

He said, a Christmas meal of 3,289 calories would take an 11-stone person more than 14 hours to burn off walking, and around four and a half hours to burn off jogging.

'When factored into a person's regular routine, walking for an extra hour each day or jogging for an extra half an hour each day could amount to two week's worth of extra January exercise,' Dr Osborne said.

'That's two week's worth of exercise, just to burn off the calories from one meal.'

In the UK, one in four adults is obese, while around two thirds are overweight. Obesity growth rates in the UK are also among the highest in Europe.

US STATS

However, there are ways to reduce the calorie count of your Christmas spread, and make your festive feast healthier.

Simple switches to the cooking process, using olive oil instead of goose or duck fat for example, is a healthier option.

Dr Obsborne added: 'Choosing lean white meat instead of red meat, and skipping processed trimmings like sausage meat and pigs in blankets can bring the calorie count dramatically down.

'Another smart technique when faced with a huge spread is to fill your plate with vegetables first, then move around to the protein, carbs and condiments.

'This way you'll get more of the fibrous elements and less of the fatty, calorific items.'

He said a lesson to be learned from those living in Scandinavia and the Mediterranean is to swap traditional Christmas day meat for fish.

'This may amount to blasphemy for some, but in truth, fish is a much less calorific option, and can be just as tasty,' Dr Osborne added.

He also urged people to exercise a little restraint, for while Christmas dinner is a once-a-year treat, during the build up to Christmas it can be tempting to overindulge for the entire festive period.

'Many might begin the culinary festivities at their annual Christmas meal with work, enjoy a few night's worth of dining out in the run-up to the big day, and continue to overindulge during the days that follow the 25th, up into the New Year,' he warned.

'For most, consuming excess calories on Christmas Day is a given, but the more this becomes a habit, the harder it is going to be to switch to a healthier lifestyle come January.'

While it may seem obvious, the best way to keep your calorie count in check is to 'simply be aware of it', he added.

'The more effort you put into keeping track of the calories you eat, the more care you'll take when visiting the Christmas party buffet.