Christmas can be the hardest time of year for people wanting to avoid pilling on the pounds.

With tins of Celebrations everywhere, not to mention a surplus of cheese boards and any number of Christmas snacks to tempt us, no wonder this season is a challenge for those who want to eat healthy.

So, Slimming World has team up with Nub News to offer a series of healthy alternative recipies during this festive season.

Read on for Hitchin Slimming World consultant Sarah Lawrence's healthy alternatives.

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A Slimming World style Christmas means healthier alternatives with no need to feel deprived.

Our Christmas Pudding is still fruity and boozy –but it's surprisingly light.

You'll need:

225g dried mixed fruit

1 tbsp brandy

170g carrots, finely grated

50g white self-raising flour

50g dark brown sugar

85g white bread, whizzed into breadcrumbs

3 large eggs, beaten

1 cooking apple, peeled, cored and grated

75ml Guinness or stout

Grated zest of 1 orange

Grated zest of 1 unwaxed lemon

½ tsp grated fresh nutmeg

Pinch of ground cinnamon

1 level tsp mixed spice

Cranberries, to decorate

Mint sprig, to decorate

1 level tsp icing sugar, to dust

Put the dried fruit in a bowl with the brandy, mix well and leave to soak for several hours, or overnight if time permits.

Add all the other ingredients to the dried fruit and brandy (remembering to make a wish!) and mix thoroughly.

Tip the mixture into a 1.2-litre pudding basin. Cover with a double thickness of baking parchment and then a piece of foil and tie securely with string.

Place the pudding on top of a steamer above gently simmering water. Cover with a lid and steam gently for 5 hours, topping up the water in the bottom of the steamer if necessary.

When the pudding is cold, replace the covers with clean ones and store in a cool, dry place until Christmas Day (it can be stored for up to three months).

Reheat on Christmas morning by steaming gently for three hours. Les, who joined Slimming World to improve his health after a hospital stay when suffering from COPD went on to lose 7 stone says "I love this Slimming World recipe. You can just place cling film over the basin and microwave on high for six minutes."

Turn out on to a serving dish, decorate with cranberries and a mint sprig and dust with icing sugar to serve.

Slimming World Hitchin: Every Thursday and Friday.

Contact Sarah 07986 947 330