Festive Food Swaps To Keep You In Shape This Christmas

The Christmas party season is known to be a time for excess and indulgence, especially when it comes to food. The passing trays of sausage rolls and vol-au-vents may look tempting, but don't forget there are tasty and healthier alternatives to nibble on, such as Spanish olives. As well as providing rich fibre content, Spanish olives contain unsaturated fat in the form of monounsaturated oleic acid, which is much healthier than what is found in many snacks and fast foods. What's more, they provide you with essential minerals, including calcium, iron, potassium, magnesium, phosphorous and iodine, as well as important vitamins B, A and E. Olives from Spain has teamed up with nutritionist Fiona Hunter to show how many calories can be saved by replacing popular party finger foods with a portion of Spanish olives. With each olive containing just over five calories and 0.3g fat, these simple food swaps could help fight the New Year bulge. Party Snack Spanish Olive Equivalent* 1 small sausage roll (34g) = 115 calories 22 Spanish olives 2 cocktail sausages = 60 calories 11 Spanish olives Mini quiche = 85 calories 16 Spanish olives Small square pizza = 119 calories 22 Spanish olives 1 blini with smoked salmon & crème fraiche = 100 calories 19 Spanish olives 1 small vegetable samosa = 90 calories 17 Spanish olives Pig in blanket = 118 calories 22 Spanish olives Mini Scotch egg = 55 calories 11 Spanish olives 1 cube of cheese & pineapple = 65 calories 12 Spanish olives Tempura Prawn = 66 calories 12 Spanish olives Devil on Horseback = 75 calories 14 Spanish olives Mini Onion Bhaji = 65 calories 12 Spanish olives Handful tortilla chips (50g) = 248 calories 47 Spanish olives Handful peanuts (25g) = 148 calories 28 Spanish olives Handful pistachio nuts (50g) = 166 calories 31 Spanish olives Small packet of crisps (30g) = 159 calories 30 Spanish olives 2 cheese straws = 100 calories 19 Spanish olives * Please note that these figures are based on the average size of an olive (3.6g)