From the number of years it takes to master the perfect turkey roast with all the trimmings to the real reason people hate Brussels sprouts, plus the hidden dangers lurking on your Christmas dinner plate - we've uncovered some startling truths behind the most celebrated meal of the year.
Things You Didn't Know About Your Christmas Dinner
It Takes 295 Days To Grow... (01 of06)
How long does it take to make your Christmas dinner? Two hours? Maybe four? In fact, the average Christmas dinner takes 295 days to make before it reaches our plate according to research by Morrisons, as it needs 10 months to sow and grow before it's ready for the festive feast. However, while it takes our beloved seasonal veg and turkey months to grow - it takes us Brits just over half an hour to polish the lot off. Find out how long it takes all of the Christmas vegetables to grow. (credit:Alamy)
It Takes 47 Years To Perfect (02 of06)
According to a study by the Food Network UK, cooking Christmas dinner is so tricky, it takes us 47 years to perfect it without any mishaps.The study found that a third of women never manage to cook the festive meal without a drama, with one in ten admitting that they mess up the gravy every year and 9% even forget to defrost the turkey. "There is a lot of pressure to pull off the 'perfect' dinner and in many families, you have to live up to the standards set by your mother or mother-in-law, who have been mastering their festive feast for years," says Nick Thorogood from the study. (credit:Alamy)
It'll Make You Gain 7lbs...(03 of06)
The average Brit will gain up to half a stone over the festive period, as the temptation of never-ending chocolates, mince pies and savoury snacks get the better of them, according to research by the British Dietetic Association.With the average Christmas dinner racking up 956 calories and containing 48g of fat, it's little wonder that we see the festive pounds pack on and suffer from festive fatigue shortly after the day of indulgence. Find out how you can avoid the Christmas fat-trap and minimise your calories. (credit:Alamy)
Hatred Of Brussels Sprouts Is Genetic(04 of06)
If you despise brussels sprouts, you're not being a fussy eater because according to scientists from L'Oréal Research Centre, some of us were born to hate the festive brussels.The gene, carried by 70% of us, make the brain detect sharp, bitter flavours and that's what makes us shun the green veg when eating our Christmas dinner. Researchers also found that our modern eating habits have blunted the gene with our taste for booze, cigarettes and spicy foods like curry. (credit:Alamy)
It Doesn't Have To Cost More Than £2...(05 of06)
Forget all the turkey trimmings - if you're feeling the pinch this Christmas, you can feed your friends and family on Christmas Day for under a fiver. Well, £2 to be exact. Money-saving site, Studentbeans have come up with an alternative dinner that costs just £2 per head.Find out what ingredients you'll need to rustle up the £2 Christmas dinner (credit:Studentbeans)
It Has Nearly Twice The RDA Of Salt(06 of06)
Britons eat nearly twice their recommended salt allowance on Christmas Day, health campaigners from Consensus Action of Salt and Health (CASH) have warned. The salt RDA is 5g, but the average Christmas dinner contains 8.87g of salt.While the nation goes about their routine gorge on the big day, experts warn that hungry Brits should steer clear of salt traps like processed and pre-prepared food to reduce the salt intake this Christmas. (credit:Alamy)