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 teamed 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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Warming winter comfort food doesn't come much better than the Slimming World campfire stew.

A true Slimming World favourite, our campfire stew is really filling, packed with flavour and totally free on the food optimising plan.

This means that you don't have to worry about weighing, measuring or counting when you're making this easy winter warmer – and you can eat as much as you like, until you feel satisfied

With sausages, bacon, beans and plenty of spice, our campfire stew is full of flavour and just the right side of fiery.

Warm up at home with a big batch of smoky, spicy campfire stew.

Best served with a dollop of mustard mash and your favourite vegetables, this delicious dish is just the thing for cold, dark nights.

Campfire stew with mustard mash

Serves four, ready in 45 mins

What you need:

800g potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped

200g fat-free natural fromage frais

1 tsp mustard powder

8 frozen Slimming World Pork Sausages (from Iceland)

low-calorie cooking spray

400g back bacon rashers, visible fat removed, chopped

2 orange peppers, deseeded and roughly chopped

1 large onion, thinly sliced

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped

1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped

1 tsp smoked paprika

2 x 415g cans baked beans

6 tbsp tomato purée

your favourite vegetables, to serve

chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, to serve

What you do:

1. To make the mash, boil the potatoes for 15-20 minutes, or until soft. After draining, return the potatoes to the pan and mash with the fromage frais until smooth. Mix the mustard powder with 3 tbsp water and stir into the mash with a little salt and pepper. Keep warm until needed.

1. While the potatoes are boiling, grill the sausages according to the pack instructions.

1. Spray a large, ovenproof dish with low-calorie cooking spray and place over a high heat. Add the bacon, peppers and onions, then stir-fry for 5-6 minutes (or until the bacon is lightly browned and the veg has started to soften).

Sarah, who has lost more than a stone in her first month at Slimming World says "Replacing the sausages and bacon with vegetarian sausages make this dish suitable for us vegetarians. It's become a family favourite already."

1. Add the garlic and chilli, together with the smoked paprika, and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes. Stir in the baked beans and tomato purée, then bring to the boil.

1. Turn down the heat to medium-low, then slice each sausage into 3 pieces and add to the dish. Simmer the campfire stew gently for 6-8 minutes, then season to taste.

Serve the stew with a dollop of mash and your favourite vegetables (green beans work really well) – and enjoy!