An advent calendar can be healthy AND full of cheer!

vIRTUOUS doesn’t mean joyless — here are our picks of the better options... HOTEL CHOCOLAT SUPERMILK £12.50, hotelchocolat.com THIS festive calendar is filled with solid reindeer, snowmen and penguins made from 65 per cent cocoa, milk, and less sugar than many dark chocolate bars — even though it is milk chocolate. BUBBLE T BODY & BATH £14.99, ocado.com EACH door opens to reveal a bath or shower product with scents such as zingy lemongrass & green tea, and sweet hibiscus & açai berry tea. The products are made with fruit extracts and tea infusions and are free from parabens (preservatives) and sodium lauryl sulfate (a detergent), which can disrupt the skin’s protective barrier. PUKKA HERBS £9, Holland & Barrett BEHIND each of the 24 windows is a different herbal tea bag — flavours include vanilla & manuka honey and some of Pukka’s wellknown blends, such as Night Time (made with oat flower, lavender, limeflower and valerian) and Revitalise (made with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, orange, spearmint and green tea). BOOSTBOX PROTEIN £35.99, getboostbox.co.uk FOR the gym fanatic, this includes 25 full-size treats — from bars and cookies to flapjacks and chocolate — each providing 15g protein, said to help build muscle and strength. COWSHED ADVENT £90, cowshed.com A SELECTION of 24 natural skincare, hand care and bath and body products, including the Cow Slip antibacterial hand gel, Cowlick gentle shampoo, and Cow Pit deodorant. COCOAPOD LIQUORICE £24.95, cocoapod.co.uk STACKS of 24 pots each containing liquorice sweets with a different flavour, including toffees and menthol liquorice peas. Liquorice is rich in iron, which helps make red blood cells that take oxygen around the body. NONO COCOA £18, yumbles.com THIS is filled with truffles free from dairy, gluten and nuts. Each has a flavoured filling with ‘benefits’ such as saffron & orange with turmeric (known for its anti-inflammatory properties), and raspberry & beetroot with baobab and camucamu, ‘superfoods’ said to provide antioxidants and vitamins C and E. SKINCARE ULTIMATE ADVENT CALENDAR £69.95, advancednutritionprogramme.com BEHIND each door is the same combination of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and plant extracts said to even out skin tone, nourish hair and nails and help reduce fine lines. The supplements include vitamin A, astaxanthin and biotin.