Famous Eaters - Father Christmas
Each month we look at the eating habits of famous people, past and present
NAME: Father Christmas. Also known as: Santa Claus, St Nicholas.
AGE: Nobody knows the true age of Father Christmas, but it is believed that he dates back as far as the 17th-century in Britain.
FAVOURITE FOOD: Milk and cookies, sherry and mince pies, porridge.
HIS LIFE: Santa Claus is portrayed as a jolly, bespectacled man in a red suit trimmed with white fur, sporting a long white beard. He lives at the North Pole with his wife, Mrs Claus, and his elves where they make toys. Each Christmas Eve, he circumnavigates the globe countless times in his flying sleigh, delivering presents to good children.
HIS ACHIEVEMENTS: The personification of Christmas cheer, Santa is loved by millions. In fact, it could be said that among children, St Nick is the world's most popular man.
HIS CHALLENGES: Overseeing a toy workshop large enough to make toys for every child in the world is no mean feat. He never gets Christmas Eve off and Christmas Day is a write-off as he recovers from squeezing down thousands of chimneys, laden with goodies.
HIS FOOD: On Christmas Eve, children around the world leave out special treats for the kindly toy deliverer. In the US, the tradition is to leave a glass of milk and cookies, while in Britain he receives mince pies and a glass of sherry (or whatever Mum or Dad's favourite tipple is! Shhh! Don't tell the kids). Every child expects their offering to be gratefully consumed, none of them sparing a thought for poor old Santa having to force down the millions of cholesterol laden treats that he finds. Needless to say, when he's not delivering presents he prefers to steer clear of mince pies
and cookies.
On one of the many websites set up on behalf of Santa, Mrs Claus explains that his favourite is the rice porridge that she makes using a secret recipe which includes the "where-did-I-put-it-spice" (see www.santaclaus.com).
Clearly, Santa's diet is a case for Food Doctor, Gillian McKeith. To set him on the right track, she could introduce him to the Santa Claus melon; an oblong fruit distinguished by its yellow skin with prominent green and black stripes. Alternatively, the carrots and water that the reindeer favour wouldn't go amiss.
