Christmas dinner walk-off

Build your Christmas plate and see how long a Boxing Day walk would take to use the same energy.

Your details

Walking pace
Your weight
Your height

Your Christmas dinner as a Boxing Day walk

20.3 km

854 kcal, 4 h 12 min steady, 3 mph

  • Roast turkey breast (100 g)153 kcal
  • Roast potatoes (150 g)242 kcal
  • Sage and onion stuffing (40 g)101 kcal
  • Brussels sprouts (80 g)26 kcal
  • Carrots (80 g)23 kcal
  • Gravy (80 g)24 kcal
  • Christmas pudding (100 g)285 kcal
  • Steps28,797

A Christmas dinner is one meal in a year of meals, and it is meant to be enjoyed. A walk after lunch is worth doing for the fresh air, daylight and time together. Figures are CoFID 2021 per typical portion.

If food, weight or exercise feel like a worry, your GP can help, and Beat (beateatingdisorders.org.uk, 0808 801 0677) offers free support.

The working

Turkey, roasties, stuffing, sprouts, carrots, gravy and pudding

The plate adds up to 854 kcal by CoFID figures. For someone of 73 kg and 170 cm, a steady walk uses that in 4 h 12 min: 20.3 km, 28,797 steps. Nobody needs to do this.

The plate

CoFID 2021, typical portions

FoodPortionkcal
Roast turkey breast100 g153
Roast potatoes150 g242
Stuffing40 g101
Roast parsnips70 g111
Christmas pudding100 g285
Mince pie55 g207

A Boxing Day walk

For its own sake

  • Daylight helps your mood and sleep in winter
  • A walk after a big meal can ease that heavy feeling
  • Bring the family and the dog

Read with care

What this cannot tell you

  • Weigh your platePortions are typical, not yours.
  • Count drinksAdd those on the alcohol pages.
  • Spoil ChristmasEnjoy every bite.

Questions

Common questions

How many calories in a Christmas dinner?

A typical plate with pudding is around 800 to 1,000 kcal before drinks and nibbles.

How far would I walk to use Christmas dinner?

About 20 km for an average adult walking steadily, which is a reminder that walking is not the point.

Is it OK to overeat at Christmas?

Yes. One day of eating more makes no lasting difference; it is the everyday pattern that matters.

Are sprouts good for you?

Very: they are high in fibre, vitamin C and folate, and only 32 kcal per 100 g.

Sources

Last checked 21 October 2026. Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.

Food, weight and worry

If food, weight or exercise feel like a worry, talk to your GP. Beat offers free, confidential support on 0808 801 0677.

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