I went to world's first 'Ozempic restaurant' and was shocked by size of the courses
The festive season and copious amounts of food go hand in hand - but this year, Christmas will look a lot different for those on weight loss jabs.
Rather than worrying about presents and parties, people on GLP-1 medication will be fretting over the portions they are going to be served up on 25 December.
That's why celebrity chef Jack Stein has crafted his pop up restaurant 'Season’s Eatings', which he says is the 'world's first' three-course Christmas dinner specifically designed for those on medical weight loss journeys.
And luckily for you lot, I offered myself up as a guinea pig to give his specially crafted seasonal spread a go.
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Despite the fact I am not one of the millions of people taking GLP-1 medication, I certainly know my grub - and what a decent portion looks like.
So, although I can't confirm whether these calorie-controlled courses will satisfy the stomach of someone taking the likes of Ozempic, Mounjaro or Wegovy, I can give you a good idea of how filling the average person would find it.
As the son of renowned chef and restaurateur Rick Stein, the chef behind the fat jab-friendly menu comes from a culinary dynasty, so we already know it's going to be palate-pleasing.
But the real test of Stein's skill came in trying to dish up a hearty Christmas dinner that wouldn't completely overwhelm a diner who is taking weight loss medication.
GLP-1 drugs work by mimicking the hormone our bodies naturally produce - regulating blood sugar levels, increasing insulin release and, in turn, making you feel fuller for longer.
Which is all well and good for the majority of the 365 days of the year... but it does complicate things on Christmas day, when gluttony is not just expected, but encouraged.
Which is why Stein opted for flavour-packed, punchy ingredients which have nutritional value - as although the dishes are slim pickings, Stein didn't compromise on taste.
His menu kicked off with canapé-sized starters - such as a slice of cured salmon with a Yuzu dressing and wasabi crumb, or the vegan-friendly roasted beetroot with pickled shallots, smoked miso and sesame dust.
And for someone who is used to piling their plate sky-high, the fact I could finish it in one bite came as quite the shock, even if it did taste delicious.
Moving onto the main event, guests were served up turkey breast - that was poached to keep calories down - which was accompanied with a red cabbage purèe, charred sprouts and a lemon-sage crumb.
One - yes, uno, un, ONE - roast potato made an appearance on my plate, which was drizzled in a soy-mustard mushroom gravy and a handful of pomegranates.
I promptly polished this off within a matter of minutes - and would have presumed that it was Ebenezer Scrooge serving up this dinner if I didn't know it was Cooking With The Stars alum Stein.
But for a person with a drastically reduced appetite due to weight loss jabs, it would probably be a perfectly portioned Christmas dinner.
Stein explained that he swapped ingredients 'that most chefs go for' such as butter and cream for lower-calorie alternatives such as marmite, soy, Chinese black vinegar.
"Chefs love flavour," Stein said. "When you’re looking at the dishes today, these are chef flavours that we keep to ourselves. These are our secrets."
Instead of wrapping up this scaled-down festive feast with a classic Christmas pudding, Stein went for a dark chocolate mousse with burnt orange zest.
This was perhaps the most decadent element of the menu, but as it was just a dollop rather than a bowlful, it wouldn't overface Ozempic, Mounjaro or Wegovy users.
All in all, although there wasn't a lot on my plate, the menu certainly offers a lot of food for thought this Christmas - even if the average person's stomach might think their throat has been cut.
Stein's 'Season’s Eatings' pop-up restaurant - which opened for a two-day stint in the UK capital last week, and is in no way affiliated with any manufacturer of GLP-1 medications - will certainly inspire those on medical weight loss journeys, and the people hosting them.
Following suit and opting for a flavour-first philosophy instead of overloading your plate with calorie-rich Christmas classics seems like the best plan for Brits who won't be as hungry this year.
New research commissioned by weight-management service CheqUp, who have collaborated with Stein on his fat-jab-friendly menu, found that a whopping 5.5 million Brits are expecting to host someone on GLP-1 medication this Christmas, while 64 percent of users will be facing their first festive season on the treatment.
The poll of 2,000 adults, a quarter of who are on weight loss jabs, revealed that 62 percent of people are planning on eating smaller portions, while 52 percent are winding back their alcohol consumption too.
Stein believes that the 'real challenge' people will face this year is 'making sure everyone feels part of the meal, whatever they eat'.
"For me, that’s where the fun begins - finding ways to make dishes full of flavour, colour, and generosity for every plate," he said.
"Using things like black vinegar, soy, miso, or citrus to add depth and balance without relying on butter or cream.
"We’ve used ingredients like lean turkey, oily fish, cruciferous vegetables and citrus to help with satiety and digestion, while the smaller plates mean you can enjoy every flavour without overdoing it.
"Anyone hosting this Christmas can take a similar approach - focus on flavour, texture and balance rather than quantity, and your guests will still feel like they’ve had the full festive experience."
Topics: Food And Drink, Health, UK News, Originals, Ozempic, Mounjaro
Olivia Burke