Christmas and winter are usually closely linked to fat, salty or sweet foods, which when eaten in big quantities, do result in weight gain and tiredness. To help you through this period without weight gain, we have put together healthy Christmas recipes from our team. This will give you an opportunity to try something new. As we are from various countries, you will also have the chance to give your Christmas an international flavour.

Chocolate ginger squares from Alena

• 300g ginger nut biscuits, roughly crushed
• 140g crystallised stem ginger, finely chopped
• 300g plain chocolate
• 100g butter, diced
• 100g golden syrup

Line a 20 x 30cm tin with baking parchment. Mix the biscuits with most of the ginger, then set aside. Melt the chocolate, butter and golden syrup in a bowl set over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until smooth and glossy. Pour this over the biscuit and ginger mixture and mix together well.

Tip the mixture into the prepared tin and sprinkle over the reserved ginger, then flatten the top lightly – it doesn’t need to be completely smooth. Chill for at least 2 hrs, or overnight, before cutting into small squares.