Save 500 calories from your Xmas Dinner

We all know that good old phrase, ‘calories on Christmas Day don’t count’ but the reality is they do. And if you’re looking to avoid that nasty shock when you step on the scales in January, we have put together 7 easy and simple Christmas Dinner Swaps which will save you 500 calories!

Turkey
Turkey is a good source of protein and, without the skin, is low in fat.
Stop: 100g of butter-basted turkey, with the skin on, has 146kcal, 4.9g fat.
Swap: 100g of skinless turkey has 104kcal, 2g fat.
Save: 42kcal.

Stuffing
Chestnuts are low in fat and a good source of potassium, which we need for healthy kidneys.
Stop: 100g of sausage meat stuffing has 252kcal, 16g fat.
Swap: 100g of cranberry, orange and roast chestnut stuffing has 162kcal, 0.8g fat.
Save: 90kcal.

Roast Potatoes
Potatoes are a good source of carbohydrate and are almost fat free (before they’re roasted in oil).
Stop: 100g of potatoes roasted in oil have 149kcal, 4.5g fat.
Swap: 100g of baked potato has 109kcal, 0.1g fat.
Save: 40kcal.

Vegetables
Serve plenty of vegetables as they’re low in calories and fat, but don’t smother them in butter.
Stop: one teaspoon of butter adds 37kcal, 4.1g fat.
Swap: use chopped fresh herbs or lemon zest to add flavour. They have almost no calories.
Save: 37kcal.

Bread Sauce
Use semi-skimmed milk to make your sauce, and add a clove of garlic to the milk to add flavour.
Stop: 100g of luxury bread sauce mix has 355kcal, 6.4g fat.
Swap: 100g of bread sauce made with semi-skimmed milk has 93kcal, 3.1g fat.
Save: 262kcal.
Gravy
To make low-fat gravy, pour the turkey juices into a jug and wait for the fat to rise to the surface. Then carefully pour or spoon off the fat before using the juices to make gravy.

Christmas Pudding
Christmas pudding is fairly low in fat and high in carbohydrate, but it’s high in sugar. Boost your calcium intake by eating it with low-fat custard or fat-free Greek yoghurt.
Stop: 1tbsp of brandy butter has 81kcal, 5.8g fat. 2tbsp of double cream has 133kcal, 14.2g fat.
Swap: 3tbsp of low-fat custard has 27kcal, 0.6g fat. 2tbsp of 0% fat Greek yoghurt has 16kcal, 0g fat.
Save: 117kcal.

The gift of health and fitness

Gym membership: the gift that keeps on giving

There’s always someone on your Christmas list who’s a little bit tricky to buy for – maybe they’ve got plenty of cash and buy themselves everything they want, or perhaps their interests are just too niche for you to be able to guess something they’ll like this festive season.

Giving the gift of an experience means that the excitement and gratitude that your loved one feels will last long past Christmas morning, and they’re sure to get plenty of use out of it.

A gym membership could be the perfect experience-gift to give your loved one this year – as long as you’re sure they won’t take it the wrong way!

Anyone who’s into health and fitness will appreciate the opportunity to work out using some top-notch gym equipment – whether that’s a brilliant selection of weights, a class to suit every temperament or just a high-spec treadmill that can keep them cosy on their runs this winter.

And if they aren’t a fitness fanatic yet? January is peak time for getting into clean living, and a gym membership is an ideal way to help them keep on track – if it’s a close friend or partner, you could even go to the gym together.

If you’re really looking to spoil your friends and family but they’ve already got a gym membership, personal training sessions could be an awesome way to take things up a notch. Book them for you and your significant other to spend some quality time together; as they say, the couple that trains together stays together!

Health club in Dublin

We think gym memberships are the gift that keeps on giving – whether you need a last minute gift for the festive season or you’re just looking for a birthday gift for someone you love.

The Dartry gym in Dublin is a luxury health club that offers members so much more than the opportunity to simply get fit. With lots of group exercise to choose from a pool and to soothe aching muscles, a membership is a gift that’s sure to go down well.

Christmas Opening Hours & Classes

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our members. Below you will find our Christmas Opening hours and classes.