Family Life Swap at Christmas

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0:00:01 > 0:00:01.

0:00:03 > 0:00:04It's Christmas!

0:00:05 > 0:00:09So say a Yuletide yo-ho hello to the Whewell family.

0:00:09 > 0:00:11Oh, my God!

0:00:11 > 0:00:14They're eagerly anticipating Christmas

0:00:14 > 0:00:16and its many temptations,

0:00:16 > 0:00:18which this year presents something of a dilemma for them.

0:00:18 > 0:00:20That is enough, Mum, put it back!

0:00:22 > 0:00:24That's because just three months ago,

0:00:24 > 0:00:26the Whewells began a lifestyle revolution

0:00:26 > 0:00:29when they took part in BBC Wales' Family Life Swap.

0:00:31 > 0:00:33Exchanging their unhealthy diets and lifestyles...

0:00:33 > 0:00:35Burgers?

0:00:35 > 0:00:39..for that of the ultra-fit and ultra-healthy Thompson family.

0:00:39 > 0:00:41Hello!

0:00:41 > 0:00:44Family Life Swap gave the Whewells a whole new lease of life.

0:00:44 > 0:00:45Oh, my God!

0:00:45 > 0:00:46SHE SCREAMS

0:00:46 > 0:00:49But now they're about to be plunged into their biggest challenge yet -

0:00:49 > 0:00:52Christmas is coming and they're concerned that it's not just

0:00:52 > 0:00:55the goose who'll be getting fat.

0:00:55 > 0:00:57Mum overloads as usual on food.

0:00:57 > 0:00:59Nobody should diet at Christmas.

0:00:59 > 0:01:02The average British Christmas dinner is 6,000 calories.

0:01:02 > 0:01:06I think with Helen you need to double it.

0:01:06 > 0:01:09And so, in the spirit of seasonal goodwill,

0:01:09 > 0:01:11we're having a festive re-match.

0:01:12 > 0:01:15But can the angelic Thompsons steer the Whewells

0:01:15 > 0:01:17to a healthier Christmas future?

0:01:17 > 0:01:20Just because it's Christmas, it doesn't mean that there's an excuse

0:01:20 > 0:01:22to be idle and stuff your face.

0:01:22 > 0:01:24I like it!

0:01:24 > 0:01:27Or is inviting Sarah Thompson and Helen Whewell to share

0:01:27 > 0:01:29a Christmas kitchen just a recipe for disaster?

0:01:29 > 0:01:31Oh, it smells like a hedge!

0:01:31 > 0:01:32'Am I prepared to compromise?'

0:01:32 > 0:01:34Uh-uh.

0:01:47 > 0:01:50Welcome to the most wonderful time of the year.

0:01:50 > 0:01:52The time for friends and family,

0:01:52 > 0:01:54for giving and receiving

0:01:54 > 0:01:57and for stuffing our happy festive faces

0:01:57 > 0:02:00with enormous amounts of rich and fatty foods.

0:02:02 > 0:02:05Because according to the experts, this Christmas, on average,

0:02:05 > 0:02:08we'll put on five to ten pounds.

0:02:10 > 0:02:13Or to put it another way - come January, we'll all have added

0:02:13 > 0:02:17the equivalent of a family sized turkey to our waistlines.

0:02:17 > 0:02:19A sobering thought?

0:02:19 > 0:02:21It is for the Whewell family.

0:02:22 > 0:02:27Just three months ago, the Whewells were at a lifestyle crossroads.

0:02:27 > 0:02:30Like 57% of the Welsh population,

0:02:30 > 0:02:33they fell into the category of being overweight or obese.

0:02:35 > 0:02:37But after a week-long crash course in diet

0:02:37 > 0:02:39and lifestyle control in the hands

0:02:39 > 0:02:42of the supremely health-conscious Thompson family,

0:02:42 > 0:02:44the Whewells have seen the light

0:02:44 > 0:02:48and turned their backs on their previously over-indulgent ways.

0:02:49 > 0:02:53And in the 12 weeks since the Family Life Swap took place,

0:02:53 > 0:02:57they've transformed their lifestyles and their diets.

0:02:57 > 0:03:00We've definitely eaten healthy as a family since Family Life Swap.

0:03:00 > 0:03:01I still don't eat chocolate,

0:03:01 > 0:03:04still don't eat crisps or anything like that.

0:03:04 > 0:03:06If you were to go and look in our kitchen cupboards now,

0:03:06 > 0:03:09there wouldn't be the sort of array of chocolates and crisps and things

0:03:09 > 0:03:12that there used to be. We don't have that in the house any more.

0:03:12 > 0:03:14They are feeling much healthier...

0:03:14 > 0:03:16I have more energy, I don't want to sit round,

0:03:16 > 0:03:18I just want to be up and doing stuff.

0:03:18 > 0:03:20..and best of all, between then,

0:03:20 > 0:03:22they've lost over four stones in weight.

0:03:25 > 0:03:27But as the festive season looms,

0:03:27 > 0:03:31there appears to be an elephant in the room.

0:03:31 > 0:03:34IT SINGS: # Sleigh bells ring Are you listening? #

0:03:34 > 0:03:35He's got a big red coat,

0:03:35 > 0:03:38a big white beard and a ruddy red nose.

0:03:38 > 0:03:41It's called Christmas and in the Whewell household,

0:03:41 > 0:03:45Christmas is traditionally crackers.

0:03:45 > 0:03:47Helen is mad

0:03:47 > 0:03:49at Christmas time.

0:03:49 > 0:03:51This hat is the best thing ever.

0:03:51 > 0:03:53My mother is like a child at Christmas.

0:03:53 > 0:03:55She's ridiculous.

0:03:55 > 0:03:58Christmas is the best thing ever!

0:03:58 > 0:04:01She goes over the top on decorations, over the top on food,

0:04:01 > 0:04:03over the top on everything.

0:04:03 > 0:04:06The Christmas mantra is - eat, drink and be merry.

0:04:06 > 0:04:08I'm about to make Whewell eggnog.

0:04:08 > 0:04:11The Christmas food is bonkers.

0:04:11 > 0:04:13I think everyone in this house

0:04:13 > 0:04:16is bloated at Christmas cos of how much food my mum puts on the plate.

0:04:16 > 0:04:20Nobody should diet at Christmas. Christmas is about fun.

0:04:20 > 0:04:24Wow there, Helen! Hold your one-horse open sleigh!

0:04:24 > 0:04:28Surely, given everything you've learnt through Family Life Swap,

0:04:28 > 0:04:31you're planning a less excessive, more health-conscious Christmas?

0:04:31 > 0:04:34We all need to be able to enjoy ourselves at Christmas

0:04:34 > 0:04:36and I think we all need to have, you know,

0:04:36 > 0:04:38times that we can let our hair down

0:04:38 > 0:04:42and have a huge blow-out and not feel guilty.

0:04:42 > 0:04:44Warren, have a word!

0:04:44 > 0:04:46No, I won't change the way that we do things here

0:04:46 > 0:04:51at Christmas time at all. We just... Helen loves it

0:04:51 > 0:04:53and I go along with it.

0:04:53 > 0:04:54Not you too, Warren?!

0:04:54 > 0:04:56Girls?

0:04:56 > 0:04:59I think partly it's cos you can only do it once a year,

0:04:59 > 0:05:01so you enjoy the things you can at Christmas once a year.

0:05:01 > 0:05:05If you want to have fun, you can have fun, because it's Christmas.

0:05:05 > 0:05:07At the end of the day, it only comes round once a year.

0:05:07 > 0:05:11Am I prepared to compromise? Um...

0:05:12 > 0:05:15364 days of the year, absolutely.

0:05:15 > 0:05:17Christmas Day, uh-uh.

0:05:17 > 0:05:19Oh, dear! Oh, no!

0:05:19 > 0:05:23As everyone knows, the road to dietary hell is paved

0:05:23 > 0:05:27with mince pies, sherry trifle and unfulfilled New Year's resolutions.

0:05:27 > 0:05:30Pork out now and repent at your leisure.

0:05:30 > 0:05:33Thankfully, the Whewells have agreed to a last-minute intervention,

0:05:33 > 0:05:36so we're calling in the Christmas health police,

0:05:36 > 0:05:38in the shape of Sarah Thompson.

0:05:38 > 0:05:41With Helen's mantra that "no-one should diet at Christmas",

0:05:41 > 0:05:47I think it should be altered to "no-one should die because of Christmas dinner".

0:05:47 > 0:05:48Just because it's Christmas,

0:05:48 > 0:05:51it doesn't mean that there's an excuse to be idle

0:05:51 > 0:05:53and stuff your face.

0:05:53 > 0:05:56In this house, we don't seem to put on weight at Christmas.

0:05:56 > 0:05:59Christmas Day is just one day

0:05:59 > 0:06:04and I would love the Whewells to make some slight alterations

0:06:04 > 0:06:08and then maybe their Christmas would be in the past

0:06:08 > 0:06:11and they can look to have a few alternatives

0:06:11 > 0:06:14for their Christmas present and future.

0:06:14 > 0:06:17But before the Thompsons can dish up a healthy Christmas future,

0:06:17 > 0:06:20they need to visit a Whewells Christmas past.

0:06:20 > 0:06:23So in true Christmas carol style,

0:06:23 > 0:06:24we're asking the Whewells

0:06:24 > 0:06:28to create their pre-Family Life Swap typical Christmas Day menu,

0:06:28 > 0:06:30and then we're inviting Sarah Thompson over

0:06:30 > 0:06:32to play the ghost of Jacob Marley.

0:06:34 > 0:06:37And what a bacchanalian blow-out Christmas dinner is.

0:06:37 > 0:06:40Roast turkey with cranberry, roast beef with horseradish...

0:06:40 > 0:06:43Helen Whewell's three-page menu is best described

0:06:43 > 0:06:45as a culinary assault course.

0:06:45 > 0:06:48..chicken tikka...

0:06:48 > 0:06:50A mastication marathon.

0:06:50 > 0:06:52..and lots of them...

0:06:52 > 0:06:54A trial by trimmings.

0:06:54 > 0:06:56..cauliflower cheese...

0:06:56 > 0:06:58The love child of Henry VIII and Santa.

0:06:58 > 0:07:00It's a genuine representation

0:07:00 > 0:07:03of what the Whewell family eat on Christmas Day.

0:07:03 > 0:07:04SANTA: Seasons greetings!

0:07:04 > 0:07:08Small wonder, then, that putting on a typical Whewell Christmas Day

0:07:08 > 0:07:11spread is like planning a battle.

0:07:11 > 0:07:16The food is the first manoeuvre in a simple case of divide and conquer.

0:07:16 > 0:07:18Helen hits the supermarket

0:07:18 > 0:07:20whilst Warren raids the butcher's.

0:07:20 > 0:07:23So it's the turkey... You haven't got a bigger one, have you?

0:07:23 > 0:07:25No.

0:07:25 > 0:07:26I'm only joking.

0:07:26 > 0:07:28But before they go over the top,

0:07:28 > 0:07:30there's been 12 months of military and financial planning

0:07:30 > 0:07:32for this campaign.

0:07:32 > 0:07:34Christmas planning, well, it goes on for the whole year.

0:07:34 > 0:07:36Immediately that Warren gets paid,

0:07:36 > 0:07:39we have ?150 that goes out of his account every month

0:07:39 > 0:07:40and it goes into a Christmas account.

0:07:40 > 0:07:43Sometimes that leaves us a bit short for the rest of the year,

0:07:43 > 0:07:45but we know that, cos Christmas is so important to us,

0:07:45 > 0:07:48we can then have a really good time at Christmas.

0:07:48 > 0:07:5120 pigs in blankets. Already done for you. Lovely.

0:07:51 > 0:07:54I have a budget which I try not to go over ?1,000

0:07:54 > 0:07:59and that includes gifts, it definitely includes final food shop,

0:07:59 > 0:08:01but it doesn't include the meat.

0:08:01 > 0:08:04We've got beef, sausages...

0:08:04 > 0:08:07Double cream, the thing that all good Christmas dinners are made of.

0:08:07 > 0:08:09One, two...

0:08:09 > 0:08:13It's the key component in so many things that I do.

0:08:13 > 0:08:15..three, four...

0:08:15 > 0:08:18There's a lot of double cream that goes into a glass of eggnog.

0:08:18 > 0:08:19..five...

0:08:19 > 0:08:22There's double cream in the cream leeks with bacon.

0:08:22 > 0:08:24..six...

0:08:24 > 0:08:26Then, obviously, when you get to the dessert,

0:08:26 > 0:08:28there's pretty much double cream in everything that I'm doing.

0:08:28 > 0:08:31Do you think we should get one more for good luck?

0:08:31 > 0:08:35Christmas without double cream. Um... I think it's unthinkable.

0:08:39 > 0:08:43And so armed with over ?300 worth of food and meat,

0:08:43 > 0:08:45Helen's going to rustle up a four-course,

0:08:45 > 0:08:4727-dish Christmas Day lunch

0:08:47 > 0:08:51for the Thompsons to feast their eyes upon.

0:08:51 > 0:08:54I have no idea where it's all going to go, I really don't know...

0:08:54 > 0:08:57In our stomachs, dear, that's where it's all going to go.

0:08:57 > 0:09:00I think with Christmas, we are over-indulgent,

0:09:00 > 0:09:03but I'm quite happy with that, to be honest.

0:09:03 > 0:09:06Yes, I have to sit there and hold his mouth open

0:09:06 > 0:09:07while I pour the food into it.

0:09:07 > 0:09:08THEY LAUGH

0:09:08 > 0:09:12It seems as yet none of the Whewells are remotely contemplating

0:09:12 > 0:09:14any Christmas compromise,

0:09:14 > 0:09:17but they have retained one lesson from Family Life Swap -

0:09:17 > 0:09:19to calculate the calories.

0:09:19 > 0:09:22467 calories in 100ml and there's 600ml there...

0:09:24 > 0:09:27So what's 467 x 600?

0:09:27 > 0:09:29Warren!

0:09:29 > 0:09:34467 x 6... Yeah.

0:09:34 > 0:09:37Times 6. I've just calculated the calories

0:09:37 > 0:09:40in our double cream mountain here,

0:09:40 > 0:09:46and...it appears there's 16,802 calories in that little lot

0:09:46 > 0:09:48and that's just the cream!

0:09:48 > 0:09:52How many was it altogether again? 2,800 and something...

0:09:52 > 0:09:57Yeah, but that's a man's daily intake in one go. Yeah.

0:09:57 > 0:09:59One pot of that and I'm done for the day.

0:10:00 > 0:10:02Here you are, then, save me cooking. Thanks.

0:10:03 > 0:10:06And as Helen says, that's just the cream -

0:10:06 > 0:10:08there's also the custard, the cakes,

0:10:08 > 0:10:11the chocolates, the biscuits, the butter,

0:10:11 > 0:10:13the sugar, the lard, deep-fat frying...

0:10:13 > 0:10:15We could go on... Bah, humbug!

0:10:15 > 0:10:17But surely that's enough calories for Helen

0:10:17 > 0:10:19to recalculate Christmas.

0:10:19 > 0:10:21Fat chance.

0:10:21 > 0:10:24As the 27 dishes begin to leave the kitchen,

0:10:24 > 0:10:27there are no second thoughts for Helen.

0:10:27 > 0:10:30What Family Life Swap told me is it's very important

0:10:30 > 0:10:31to think about what you're eating.

0:10:31 > 0:10:34And to embrace a better lifestyle,

0:10:34 > 0:10:38but I still don't think that there's anything wrong

0:10:38 > 0:10:41with being decadent now and again.

0:10:41 > 0:10:45I think it's very important to enjoy life, because you're only here once.

0:10:45 > 0:10:48She's done us proud again, I think.

0:10:48 > 0:10:51It's mad, though, isn't it?

0:10:51 > 0:10:54And so, as the Whewells table turns inexorably into a beast

0:10:54 > 0:10:58of burden, divine intervention is called for.

0:10:58 > 0:11:01# Hallelujah! Hallelujah! #

0:11:01 > 0:11:05Hallelujah! It's the Thompsons! They've come to save Christmas!

0:11:05 > 0:11:08# Hallelujah! #

0:11:08 > 0:11:11Come on in, take your coats off, you're just in time.

0:11:14 > 0:11:16Helen's planning to feed the 5,000.

0:11:20 > 0:11:24Right, shall we go on through, then? Wow!

0:11:24 > 0:11:26Helen, you've been mega-busy.

0:11:26 > 0:11:29Wow! I can't even take it all in.

0:11:29 > 0:11:31That's a hell of a Yule log.

0:11:31 > 0:11:33THEY LAUGH

0:11:33 > 0:11:36Is this for four, yeah? Christmas Day?

0:11:36 > 0:11:39Well, whoever's around, really. OK.

0:11:39 > 0:11:42You, Christmas in your house... Yeah.

0:11:42 > 0:11:45..is it one day? Yeah, this is what we'd have in one day.

0:11:45 > 0:11:48Wow! I mean, how would this compare with what you would cook?

0:11:48 > 0:11:50Probably just have a small turkey crown

0:11:50 > 0:11:55and then we'd still have leftovers from it, though, Helen. Yeah.

0:11:55 > 0:11:58Roast potatoes... How did you cook them, by the way?

0:11:58 > 0:12:02Parboiled... Uh-huh. ..and then roasted... In?

0:12:02 > 0:12:03Dripping. Dripping!

0:12:03 > 0:12:04THEY LAUGH

0:12:04 > 0:12:08What do you like about Christmas dinner?

0:12:08 > 0:12:11I like the creams, which is all there, I like the creams there.

0:12:11 > 0:12:14The sprouts.

0:12:14 > 0:12:17From a sort of calorie point of view,

0:12:17 > 0:12:19does it bother you at all?

0:12:19 > 0:12:22Cos this is heaving with calories.

0:12:22 > 0:12:25Yeah. Yeah, it's always in my mind, yeah.

0:12:25 > 0:12:27The puddings scare the hell out of me,

0:12:27 > 0:12:32cos there is just so much, so much cream...

0:12:32 > 0:12:34There's six pints of double cream on this table.

0:12:34 > 0:12:37Do you need to have cream? And a pound of butter.

0:12:37 > 0:12:40Do you need to have that? Yes.

0:12:40 > 0:12:44Why? Cos it's lovely. Well, this is where I don't understand.

0:12:44 > 0:12:46THEY LAUGH

0:12:46 > 0:12:49I've lost understanding now.

0:12:49 > 0:12:51You know, if there are ways of doing these things

0:12:51 > 0:12:54that taste the same but in a healthier way

0:12:54 > 0:12:56then I'm absolutely all up for that idea,

0:12:56 > 0:12:58I definitely would embrace that,

0:12:58 > 0:13:03but in terms of compromising on what I think makes Christmas special,

0:13:03 > 0:13:08I want the kids to look back in years to come and say, you know,

0:13:08 > 0:13:11"Mum really pushed the boat out, she really made an effort for us."

0:13:11 > 0:13:17The legacy to leave is not one of your children having heart disease

0:13:17 > 0:13:20or arteriosclerosis

0:13:20 > 0:13:23so, from that respect,

0:13:23 > 0:13:28I don't think Helen is doing her children favours. Well, I think

0:13:28 > 0:13:31Sarah is absolutely entitled to her opinion,

0:13:31 > 0:13:33I think it's a very valid opinion,

0:13:33 > 0:13:35but...stuff it, it's Christmas.

0:13:35 > 0:13:38THEY LAUGH

0:13:39 > 0:13:44There sure is a challenge here, but I think the challenge is being made really easy.

0:13:44 > 0:13:47Do you? Yeah.

0:13:47 > 0:13:51Get rid of that cream to start off with!

0:13:51 > 0:13:54I don't think we can do Christmas without cream.

0:13:54 > 0:13:57This could be made so much more healthier

0:13:57 > 0:13:59and you won't be compromising on your beliefs

0:13:59 > 0:14:02of having good food prepared well

0:14:02 > 0:14:06and providing a good, healthy legacy for your kids.

0:14:06 > 0:14:08But will it taste nice?

0:14:08 > 0:14:10It'll taste lovely. Will it look like this?

0:14:10 > 0:14:13It'll look gorgeous.

0:14:13 > 0:14:14Let's have a go, then.

0:14:17 > 0:14:20So the Christmas oven gloves are off and the tinsel

0:14:20 > 0:14:22gauntlet has been thrown at Sarah's feet.

0:14:22 > 0:14:27So, for an alternative Christmas dinner, what are we going to have?

0:14:27 > 0:14:30Sarah's about to take on the challenge

0:14:30 > 0:14:32of Family Life Swap at Christmas...

0:14:32 > 0:14:36Lots of veg. All right, what sort of veg? Sprouts.

0:14:36 > 0:14:39..to plan, prepare and cook a healthy and tasty alternative

0:14:39 > 0:14:41to Helen's festive overload.

0:14:41 > 0:14:43I still like parsnips. Yeah.

0:14:43 > 0:14:47But can she come up with a live-longer Christmas dinner

0:14:47 > 0:14:49that both families can sit down and enjoy?

0:14:49 > 0:14:55I think there must have been about 8,000 calories per person on that table.

0:14:55 > 0:14:59An alternative would be to achieve about 2,500 calories.

0:14:59 > 0:15:06And I reckon we could save so much on her pocket as well.

0:15:06 > 0:15:08Cash, calories, and consumption -

0:15:08 > 0:15:11the holy trinity of a contemporary Christmas.

0:15:11 > 0:15:16In fact, the average family will spend around ?180 on food and drink

0:15:16 > 0:15:20this Christmas, and the typical Christmas dinner will weigh in at

0:15:20 > 0:15:227,000 calories.

0:15:22 > 0:15:26That's over three times the recommended daily intake for a woman

0:15:26 > 0:15:30and the equivalent of scoffing 28 hamburgers at one sitting.

0:15:31 > 0:15:35So if you're contemplating avoiding all of that excess, why not visit

0:15:35 > 0:15:37our website at...

0:15:40 > 0:15:43..where you'll find exclusive Family Life Swap clips,

0:15:43 > 0:15:45tips and recipes, including some of the healthy options

0:15:45 > 0:15:48Sarah's about to cook up for the Whewells.

0:15:48 > 0:15:51Once she's been shopping for the ingredients, of course.

0:15:54 > 0:15:55Come on, then.

0:15:57 > 0:15:59Parsnips? Parsnips and carrots.

0:16:00 > 0:16:03My agenda here is to show Helen

0:16:03 > 0:16:06that she can have a healthier dinner.

0:16:06 > 0:16:07I found some of these.

0:16:07 > 0:16:09Without having too many sacrifices.

0:16:09 > 0:16:13But also, it's going to be a bit better on her budget as well.

0:16:13 > 0:16:14Fruit salad.

0:16:14 > 0:16:16Yes. OK.

0:16:16 > 0:16:20Mint, we need. What, like, After Eights? No, not After Eights!

0:16:21 > 0:16:24Sprouts. Sprouts are over there.

0:16:25 > 0:16:28No-one's going to be going cold turkey so much.

0:16:28 > 0:16:32But I'm really strongly opposing any double cream.

0:16:32 > 0:16:37Do you want fat-free Greek-style yoghurt?

0:16:37 > 0:16:39Bio-live yoghurt? I don't mind.

0:16:39 > 0:16:43I can't get excited about yoghurt at Christmas.

0:16:47 > 0:16:50Let's see what you've got!

0:16:50 > 0:16:53Put it back. Humbug!

0:16:53 > 0:16:54It's like shopping with my mother.

0:16:54 > 0:16:58Spray oil, Helen, is going to change your world.

0:16:58 > 0:17:02You will never have stuff dripping in fat again. Yay(!)

0:17:02 > 0:17:06You've got everything. You're going to be full after this.

0:17:06 > 0:17:10You're eating with your eyes. Shall we go and pay?

0:17:10 > 0:17:11Yeah.

0:17:13 > 0:17:16Matchmakers.

0:17:16 > 0:17:17SHE GASPS Somebody else...

0:17:17 > 0:17:21Did you not have enough double cream last time?

0:17:21 > 0:17:22Yeah, but just in case... I mean...

0:17:22 > 0:17:25Let's imagine now that there was a natural disaster

0:17:25 > 0:17:28and the creme fraiche was off. We would need a backup.

0:17:28 > 0:17:32This is Christmas future. No, this... This is Christmas past.

0:17:32 > 0:17:35Well, make it my Christmas present. Christmas past!

0:17:37 > 0:17:40So how did we do, Helen? We did OK. We haven't spent...

0:17:40 > 0:17:42What are the scores on the board?

0:17:42 > 0:17:45We spent ?65, which isn't as much as I spent last week.

0:17:45 > 0:17:50In fact, it is about ?90 less than I spent last week. That's good.

0:17:50 > 0:17:52That is good, I take your point, that is good,

0:17:52 > 0:17:56but the proof of the pudding is in the eating! The pudding.

0:17:56 > 0:17:59Sarah's alternative Christmas fare will be low-fat

0:17:59 > 0:18:03and will be served naked of cream, lard or goose grease.

0:18:03 > 0:18:06All of the ingredients will be fresh, roasted or steamed,

0:18:06 > 0:18:09but whether they'll come with any flavour

0:18:09 > 0:18:11remains for the Whewells to decide.

0:18:12 > 0:18:15But as our live-longer Christmas Day dawns,

0:18:15 > 0:18:18and before anyone goes wild with the fat-free yogurt,

0:18:18 > 0:18:24the Whewells need to realise one small fact. When tasting a Thompson

0:18:24 > 0:18:28Christmas, food is not the first thing on the menu - exercise is.

0:18:28 > 0:18:32Our house on Christmas Day, we go for a little jog in the morning.

0:18:32 > 0:18:35So we thought we wouldn't want you to miss out on that little treat.

0:18:35 > 0:18:38So, we have got some little Christmas outfits,

0:18:38 > 0:18:40so let's go for a little jog.

0:18:41 > 0:18:42Come on, Santa!

0:18:47 > 0:18:50There is some method in Sarah's madness.

0:18:50 > 0:18:52Exercise not only burns off the calories

0:18:52 > 0:18:56and creates an appetite, it also kick-starts the body's metabolism.

0:18:56 > 0:18:57Go away.

0:18:57 > 0:19:00All the better to deal with any Xmas excess.

0:19:00 > 0:19:03Very, very hard moving quickly with facial hair.

0:19:03 > 0:19:06Come on, Helen and Bonnie!

0:19:06 > 0:19:09A sort of speed walk gone wrong!

0:19:09 > 0:19:11Well done!

0:19:11 > 0:19:14I need eggnog and a lot of it.

0:19:14 > 0:19:18It was good fun. Very invigorating.

0:19:19 > 0:19:23And just when the Whewells have built up a guilt-free appetite,

0:19:23 > 0:19:26Grinch Sarah's got another horror to reveal.

0:19:27 > 0:19:30I've got a little surprise for you.

0:19:31 > 0:19:34You know your puddings last week? Yeah.

0:19:34 > 0:19:37How many calories do you think was in those five puddings?

0:19:37 > 0:19:41All of them together? 10,000.

0:19:41 > 0:19:43Any takers on that?

0:19:43 > 0:19:4512?

0:19:45 > 0:19:4930,514 calories.

0:19:49 > 0:19:50Whoops.

0:19:50 > 0:19:53That's like the equivalent of the international Welsh rugby team's

0:19:53 > 0:19:57daily intake in those five puddings. Lovely!

0:19:57 > 0:20:03The fat content was over 2,500 grams of fat. Which equates to...

0:20:03 > 0:20:04HE LAUGHS

0:20:04 > 0:20:08Oh, my God! 11 packets of lard. Lovely!

0:20:08 > 0:20:12And that also equated to 600 grams of sugar.

0:20:12 > 0:20:15Do you know when we went shopping and I said,

0:20:15 > 0:20:18"We'll make a no-cream cheesecake"? Yeah.

0:20:18 > 0:20:23Well, that is the amount of fat and sugar that is going to be in there.

0:20:23 > 0:20:27So those are yours and that's going to be our pudding today.

0:20:29 > 0:20:32That's an incredible difference. It's absolutely shocking.

0:20:32 > 0:20:34It is quite scary

0:20:34 > 0:20:39when you look at from one day's worth of consumption of fat.

0:20:39 > 0:20:42To think that that could be flowing around your veins is

0:20:42 > 0:20:44a bit of a worry.

0:20:44 > 0:20:46That's gross.

0:20:46 > 0:20:49I feel seeing that is a bit of a setback, really,

0:20:49 > 0:20:50after everything we've done.

0:20:50 > 0:20:53I am surprised, but I am not that shocked, really,

0:20:53 > 0:20:57because of how much rubbish goes into the cakes she makes.

0:20:57 > 0:20:58Yeah, your fault.

0:20:58 > 0:21:01Poor Helen, taking the blame again.

0:21:01 > 0:21:05Well, I feel quite shocked. Well, very shocked.

0:21:05 > 0:21:08And I feel quite despondent.

0:21:08 > 0:21:10I feel quite guilty, actually.

0:21:10 > 0:21:15That I have inflicted all of this lard upon my loved ones. But...

0:21:17 > 0:21:20You know, it's done now, you can only look to the future, can't you?

0:21:20 > 0:21:23Christmas past, Christmas future. OK.

0:21:23 > 0:21:28Blimey, Sarah - talk about taking a hammer to a Christmas nut!

0:21:28 > 0:21:31Still, let's see if the Thompsons and the Whewells can't join forces

0:21:31 > 0:21:34and crack this compromise Christmas dinner.

0:21:34 > 0:21:38I got you a very special apron just for the occasion!

0:21:38 > 0:21:41THEY LAUGH

0:21:41 > 0:21:45Seeing as you are in charge, I'll let you wear it. Let's cook.

0:21:45 > 0:21:47Let's do it.

0:21:47 > 0:21:50Sarah's compromise dinner is really a simplified version

0:21:50 > 0:21:52of the Whewells' gargantuan blow-out.

0:21:52 > 0:21:57Many of the dishes will be the same, but instead of 27 of them,

0:21:57 > 0:22:00there'll be just 12 - and the festival of fat

0:22:00 > 0:22:03will be replaced by the fresh, the green and the lean.

0:22:03 > 0:22:05Rather than goose fat, we are

0:22:05 > 0:22:09going to use a couple of sprays of olive oil. Oh, my God.

0:22:09 > 0:22:14Normally I'll drizzle them - well, drown them - in honey.

0:22:14 > 0:22:18I am certainly less cynical than I was before I saw

0:22:18 > 0:22:22the lard on the table, that has been a huge change for me.

0:22:22 > 0:22:24So I am much more receptive to that idea.

0:22:24 > 0:22:27And continuing the low-fat theme,

0:22:27 > 0:22:30Sarah's also serving her unique take on stuffing.

0:22:30 > 0:22:34When we were shopping the other night for the stuffing,

0:22:34 > 0:22:37Helen said that she has never had any dill before.

0:22:37 > 0:22:41So I thought I would put some dill into the stuffing

0:22:41 > 0:22:45so it may smell very organic to Helen.

0:22:45 > 0:22:46Smell.

0:22:47 > 0:22:49Oh, it smells like a hedge!

0:22:49 > 0:22:51THEY LAUGH

0:22:51 > 0:22:55A hedge? Wonder what Helen's nose will make of the no-cream

0:22:55 > 0:22:57strawberry cheesecake?

0:22:57 > 0:22:59Smell that, Helen. You can't deny.

0:22:59 > 0:23:04Hmm. It's a cross between Wimbledon and cough mixture! Cough mixture?

0:23:04 > 0:23:08Am I convinced that that's going to taste as good as the cheesecake

0:23:08 > 0:23:10I made? Yes.

0:23:11 > 0:23:15Good. It's going to taste better.

0:23:15 > 0:23:18Well, that certainly remains to be seen.

0:23:18 > 0:23:22But after a remarkably chill and cordial three hours in the kitchen,

0:23:22 > 0:23:25the ladies who have made lunch... That looks gorgeous.

0:23:25 > 0:23:28..are just about ready to face their jury.

0:23:28 > 0:23:31So we are ready now. Shall I go and be the waiter?

0:23:31 > 0:23:33Find out what they want? All right, then, yeah.

0:23:33 > 0:23:36For hors d'oeuvres, the choice is melon smile,

0:23:36 > 0:23:40chicken tikka with low-fat yoghurt and mint dip, or roast butternut

0:23:40 > 0:23:45squash and sweet potato soup with a decadent dollop of creme fraiche.

0:23:45 > 0:23:48Ding-ding! Round one.

0:23:49 > 0:23:51Whey!

0:23:51 > 0:23:54Let's drink to a successful collaborative effort. Excellent.

0:23:54 > 0:23:57Hear, hear. Merry Christmas, everyone. Cheers.

0:24:04 > 0:24:07It's super stunning. It's really nice.

0:24:07 > 0:24:11I would definitely have it again. Hint, hint, Mum.

0:24:11 > 0:24:16Well, this soup is just phenomenal, it is really, really good.

0:24:16 > 0:24:19And it's filling and it has got a lovely little kick to it,

0:24:19 > 0:24:22so it's really good stuff, I'm very impressed.

0:24:22 > 0:24:25How is the yoghurt and mint dip with your melon?

0:24:25 > 0:24:28It's all right, actually. It doesn't go together too bad.

0:24:28 > 0:24:31Well, I think the first course has gone remarkably well.

0:24:31 > 0:24:33Helen has a recipe for the soup,

0:24:33 > 0:24:36so that's all a step in the right direction.

0:24:36 > 0:24:38And Jenni's verdict?

0:24:38 > 0:24:42No, I'm not missing any of the traditional starters.

0:24:42 > 0:24:45Because I didn't really like them, no offence.

0:24:45 > 0:24:46THEY LAUGH

0:24:46 > 0:24:48None taken!

0:24:48 > 0:24:53Well, that's definitely round one to compromise Christmas. But round two?

0:24:53 > 0:24:55Feathers are about to fly!

0:24:55 > 0:24:58It looks OK. Probably a third of the size Mum would do.

0:24:58 > 0:25:01I don't see how anybody can be unhappy about the portion sizes

0:25:01 > 0:25:04they've had. Where is the rest of it? It's like a starter.

0:25:04 > 0:25:06If somebody asks "Where's the rest of it,"

0:25:06 > 0:25:09I'm going to say that is really, exceedingly greedy.

0:25:09 > 0:25:11Can I have a second portion if it goes down well?

0:25:11 > 0:25:16Warren may need a good lesson in portion control.

0:25:16 > 0:25:18It's normally got to be built up like a skyscraper.

0:25:18 > 0:25:21I think he's missing the boat, really.

0:25:21 > 0:25:24My only complaint would be that there's not enough potatoes.

0:25:24 > 0:25:27I think Christmas dinner could be different from now on.

0:25:27 > 0:25:30It's nice to eat something that is so full of flavour

0:25:30 > 0:25:33and we know it's something that's good for us as well.

0:25:33 > 0:25:36If it was the actual Christmas dinner I was going to have,

0:25:36 > 0:25:38I don't know, I still miss my cauliflower cheese.

0:25:38 > 0:25:43I think this would be like an 8.5 compared to my mum's

0:25:43 > 0:25:45because, like, she does an overload

0:25:45 > 0:25:49and everyone just doesn't want to eat for, like, two days.

0:25:49 > 0:25:52She makes us eat dessert because she's made all that effort.

0:25:52 > 0:25:53And then we feel ill, then.

0:25:53 > 0:25:58Perhaps Jenni and Bonnie need to be more forceful to their parents.

0:25:58 > 0:26:01And they are really going to be the key to unlock it.

0:26:01 > 0:26:04The question is, Mum, would you be brave enough to send Sarah

0:26:04 > 0:26:06a picture of our Christmas dinner this year?

0:26:06 > 0:26:08Mm. Bonnie, I might knock on the door

0:26:08 > 0:26:12and check she's got no double cream hidden anywhere!

0:26:12 > 0:26:13So far, it has gone so well.

0:26:13 > 0:26:16They have liked the starters, they have liked the main course.

0:26:16 > 0:26:20Going back to the lard mountain, I really hope they like their pudding

0:26:20 > 0:26:22and particularly the no-cream cheesecake.

0:26:22 > 0:26:25And lard is still very much in my mind.

0:26:25 > 0:26:28But we'll see what happens with the next course.

0:26:28 > 0:26:32For pud, there's a seasonal fresh fruit medley, plus the most

0:26:32 > 0:26:36controversial dish on the menu - the no-cream strawberry cheesecake.

0:26:36 > 0:26:40It is more of a blancmange texture than a cheesecake texture.

0:26:40 > 0:26:42But that's because it has no cream.

0:26:42 > 0:26:44It has no cream in it!

0:26:44 > 0:26:49And it has very, very little sugar. What do you think, Helen?

0:26:49 > 0:26:51I like it. It's lovely. SHE GASPS

0:26:51 > 0:26:53That's exciting for me.

0:26:53 > 0:26:55I miss my chocolate torte!

0:26:57 > 0:26:59Sorry, I'm weak.

0:26:59 > 0:27:03I really liked the starter. The main course was nice.

0:27:03 > 0:27:05I couldn't eat it all, I was full.

0:27:05 > 0:27:08Whereas maybe with Mum's portions I would force it down.

0:27:08 > 0:27:12I enjoyed the meal, don't get me wrong, it was very nice.

0:27:12 > 0:27:17Do I think it captures my version of Christmas?

0:27:17 > 0:27:18Not so much.

0:27:18 > 0:27:21But there are certainly elements that I can take to make

0:27:21 > 0:27:24our Christmas dinner healthier, so I think that's a start.

0:27:26 > 0:27:28Rosie, that is for you.

0:27:28 > 0:27:31And a dash fine starts it is too, Helen.

0:27:31 > 0:27:34That is for you. Oh, thank you. Merry Christmas.

0:27:34 > 0:27:38After all, having spent the last 12 weeks on the dietary

0:27:38 > 0:27:42straight and narrow, isn't it OK to go OTT just for one day?

0:27:42 > 0:27:43Swiss roll!

0:27:43 > 0:27:45THEY LAUGH

0:27:45 > 0:27:50Well, that'll be entirely up to you, your conscience, and Sarah -

0:27:50 > 0:27:53the ghost of Christmas present over there.

0:27:53 > 0:27:55"Christmas calories don't count".

0:27:55 > 0:27:57THEY LAUGH

0:27:57 > 0:27:58Yes, they do.

0:28:00 > 0:28:04Well, we've bought you these plates because you have very,

0:28:04 > 0:28:08very large plates in your house. Just by having these plates,

0:28:08 > 0:28:12you could cut your meal intake by 800 calories.

0:28:12 > 0:28:15That's great, isn't it? Did Sarah keep the receipt?

0:28:15 > 0:28:18But one last question - will there be any actual compromising

0:28:18 > 0:28:21in the Whewell household when the real Christmas Day arrives?

0:28:21 > 0:28:25Maybe a bit of creme fraiche in the leeks. Yeah, maybe. Maybe...

0:28:25 > 0:28:30Give it a try. Maybe not drench the roast potatoes in goose fat.

0:28:31 > 0:28:35They are good, though, aren't they? Maybe we'll still have the goose fat.

0:28:36 > 0:28:39Oh, I wouldn't let Sarah hear you say that!