Open the (little) door to healthy advent calendars...

Counting down to Christmas? Here are some more virtuous alternatives — some could even be good for you!

MONTEZUMA’S DARK

£9.99, montezumas.co.uk THIS contains 73 per cent dark chocolate, which is rich in antioxidants, said to protect cells from damage.

WATERDROP

From £17.90, waterdrop.com WATERDROPS are small dissolvable cubes designed to be added to water. Each contains vitamins and has no added sugar. The calendars have a different flavour behind each door.

PLAMIL SALTED CARAMEL

£4.95, plamilfoods.co.uk THIS is filled with salted caramel-flavour chocolate that’s free from gluten and dairy. Made with rice instead of milk, it is suitable for people with food intolerances.

HOTEL CHOCOLAT 100% DARK

£12.50, hotelchocolat.com BEHIND each door is a 100 per cent dark chocolate festive figure, with no added sugar or milk.

LIVIA’S

£39.99, selfridges.com WITH 24 full-size Livia’s snacks, such as Choc Brownie nugglets, made with date paste and raw chocolate. Free from dairy and gluten.

TEA PIGS

£29.99, teapigs.co.uk BEHIND each of the 24 doors is a different tea blend, such as spiced winter red tea, cinnamon & apple, and chocolate orange.

MINI POP!

£18, popcornshed.com THE kernels here are smaller and have thinner hulls than average, which is said to disintegrate when chewed so none gets stuck in your teeth and the popcorn is easier to digest.

BIRD AND BLEND MATCHA

£30, birdandblendtea.com THIS provides tins of matcha green tea, which contains EGCG, a compound with anti-inflammatory properties. Flavours include mulled wine and mince pie.

PROTEIN BALL CO

£19.99, theproteinballco.com BEHIND each door is a protein ball in one of six flavours. Made primarily from dates, they have no added sugar.

LAKRIDS LIQUORICE

£36, lakridsbybulow.co.uk EACH window has two pieces of liquorice with a different flavour. Liquorice contains iron, which helps to make red blood cells.