The perfect Xmas dinner
Seldom is the pressure higher than when the family have gathered on December 25th, expecting the perfect Christmas dinner complete with crispy yet fluffy roast potatoes, thick rich gravy and of course a succulent juicy turkey crown. So why leave this important job to chance and instinct? Add a touch of scientific theory to the cooking process, and you can be sure your Yorkshires don’t flop, the sprouts don’t turn to mush and the Christmas pud goes up in a triumphant blaze.
Here, we have a look at the scientific formula for the perfect Christmas dinner – ensuring your guests go home with a bellyful of the finest festive fare.
Psychologists Dr David Lewis and Dr Margaret Yufera-Leitch believe that the perfect Christmas dinner is made up of an idyllic mixture of protein, amino acids, carbohydrates and vitamins – ensuring that all Christmas dinner guests will be pleasantly satisfied rather than over-stuffed. This could be the difference between a fun-filled Christmas day and an afternoon laid up on the sofa despairing over your greed.
In partnership with supermarket, Aldi, the psychologists determined the perfect Christmas dinner plate consists of 150g white roast turkey meat, 110g chestnut stuffing, 100g gravy, 155g steamed sprouts, 170g carrots and 150g of red cabbage.
Utilising a branch of food science known as Sensory Specific Satiety, the psychologists believe this plateful will regulate digestion and stabilise insulin levels. Offering a selection of health benefits, the omega-3 fatty acids can help to protect against heart disease, heart attacks and stroke.
With a slice of Christmas pud, a mince pie and a clementine for dessert, the psychologists believe this meal will satisfy the taste buds and the digestive system alike. Dr Lewis explained: “It’s not just the taste of the turkey and all the trimmings, or the memories it evokes of Christmases past, that make roast turkey such a favourite at Christmas.
“It’s the variety of colours, tastes, aromas and textures in a traditional Christmas dinner that has guests’ mouths watering before they have even tasted a mouthful. When you then look at the effects each different ingredient has on the body, it’s clear why a good Christmas dinner is the perfect plate of food.”
Although we respect the good work of the psychologists, we have tweaked their scientific formula slightly, and believe we have really improved it. Keeping all the same elements as above, our formula includes the addition of a Yorkshire pudding, pigs-in-blankets, roast potatoes and cauliflower cheese. After significant research, we have concluded without doubt that all of these additions are scientifically delicious.
If you’re here for the commercial labs rather than Christmas dinner tips, head over to our homepage to check out how InterFocus can help you. Alternatively call our dedicated team on 01223 894833 and we’ll help you develop your perfect laboratory suite.
