Experts quantify steps needed to burn off festive foods and drinks

Experts with the WeWard walking app have quantified how many steps it takes to burn off popular festive foods and drinks. The new index shows champagne as the easiest to offset, with a 90-calorie glass linked to about 1,692 steps (roughly 17 minutes of walking) for an average adult at a moderate pace.

Other festive drinks fall in a similar range. Wine and cider, at about 120 calories, require about 2,256 steps (23 minutes). A mimosa, at around 140 calories, needs about 2,632 steps (26 minutes). A standard espresso martini at about 160 calories would require roughly 3,000 steps (30 minutes). More indulgent options stay under an hour of walking: a hot toddy made with whisky, honey, lemon and spices clocks in at about 3,196 steps (32 minutes); hot chocolate at around 3,647 steps (36 minutes); and eggnog and beer, at roughly 3,948 and 3,910 steps respectively, come in near 39 minutes of walking.

On the food side, the study analyzed classic Christmas staples using standard portions. Roast turkey, a common centerpiece, contains about 142 calories and would require about 2,858 steps (29 minutes). Roast potatoes, roughly 190 calories, demand about 3,572 steps (36 minutes). Stuffing proved the most demanding item, with a typical portion at around 356 calories needing about 6,693 steps (roughly 67 minutes) to offset, more than double the time required for roast turkey. Researchers noted that actual walking time depends on portion size, meaning larger servings would require proportionally more activity.

The findings align with longstanding health guidance that increasing daily step counts can improve heart health, aid weight management and support mental wellbeing. The conventional goal of 10,000 steps a day is widely cited, but researchers have suggested that even modest activity can yield meaningful benefits. A study published earlier this year found that adding a steady 15-minute walk to the day reduced the risk of heart disease and early death, with those who walked consistently for about 15 minutes daily seeing the risk of early death fall by as much as 85% compared with people who took short, irregular walks. The researchers concluded that modest changes in daily step patterns, without dramatic jumps in total step counts, can deliver substantial health benefits.