What’s a movie without popcorn, Jack without Rose, and Christmas without food? Not much, that’s what. But what’s worse than not having food on Christmas is bad food. Here are two dishes you may want to avoid this Christmas, and two to indulge in.
Worst of:
Christmas Pudding
Looks: If your desired aesthetic is putting something that looks like it should come out of you, into you, then you may fancy the Christmas pudding. Otherwise, Instagram would likely appreciate it if you kept the moist, dense ball of diabetes at bay.
Taste: Made of wrinkly, desiccated fruits, the unborn child of a domesticated fowl, hardened fats found around the loins and kidneys of a cow, and lots of alcohol to wash down the regret you’ve just tasted, it’s no wonder Christmas pudding is fast becoming a table centrepiece—to see and not to eat.
Calories: One serving can easily set you back at 763 cal, which is the equivalent of running on a treadmill for 19 km. To add to the festivity, your belly will thank you for the additional 25.2 g of fat (with 15.5 g of it saturated fat) to keep it warm throughout the cold, winter season.
Turkey
Looks: I don’t like the look of whole animals on my plate. Turkeys, stuffed, and as they are traditionally served every Christmas, are a constant reminder of the anxiety and trepidation of Ginger’s fallen poultry comrades in Chicken Run.
Taste: True to the evolutionary process of self-preservation, turkeys have transformed themselves into an unpalatable mix of tough, bland meat and plastic skin to avoid their biannual mass culling.
Calories: At 173 calories per serving and low in fats, it is every dieters’ best friend, but are you really putting yourself through the agony of gnawing at cardboard to save the calories?
Best of:
Brussels Sprouts
Looks: They look like adorable miniature heads of cabbage when raw, but quickly morphs into a wrinkled mess of soggy leaves when cooked.
Taste: Granted, they smell and taste like bitter gym socks when boiled singly, but the bad rep they get from Western media portrayals is all but true. Throw some lemon juice, honey and bacon into the mix and you’ll get your festive fix of reasonably tasty vegetables.
Calories: Half a cup of Brussels sprouts contains only 28 calories and 0 g of fat.
Glazed Ham
Looks: What could be more mouth-watering than watching the lustrous layer of honey glaze scintillating amid the Christmas lights? Glazed ham is a great alternative to the decapitated poultry aesthetic that turkeys offer.
Taste: From breakfast to dinner, main course to dessert, ham is versatile enough to be found in most Singaporeans’ everyday diet. Drizzle a whole block of them with honey glaze and pineapples, and it will easily pass for the most delicious festive treat among your Christmas dinner spread.
Calories: The succulent savoury-sweetness is worth every 215 calories and 7 grams of fat per serving.
by Jessica Tan
