Thanksgiving Calorie Blowout!!!

Thanksgiving is almost upon us.  In typical American fashion, we have outdone ourselves and have made a seemingly simple, healthy meal into a fat-laden, overindulging feast!  If you check on the internet for the calorie content of a typical American Thanksgiving meal, you'll find numbers ranging from 2,200 to over 4,500!  Remember, one pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories.  Most people have a daily calorie requirement of 1,700 to 2,100.

Depending on what part of the country you reside (or were raised) and depending on your ethnic background, the contents of the Thanksgiving meal differ.  A "typical" meal can consist of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes/yams, cranberry sauce, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls and salad.  Dessert typically is comprised of pecan, pumpkin and/or apple pie, cheesecake, and, of course, whipped topping.  Drinks range from champagne, wine, and egg nog to sodas and sparkling cider.  Do your pants feel a little tighter just reading that menu??  On top of all of that food, we very rarely have only one-serving of many of these items.  After all, most of us have the day off and for some, it's the only time we get to see our extended family.  Why not celebrate and indulge?

Food is a common way to celebrate.  We have cake and ice cream during birthday celebrations; there's candy and sweets for Valentine's day and Halloween; we hit the barbecue for July 4th, Labor day and Memorial day.  Why shouldn't we have a feast at Thanksgiving?  There's nothing wrong with using food for celebration as long as it is used wisely.  Take a look at your dinner plate and 2/3 of it should have fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  The remaining 1/3 should have lean protein.  You still can enjoy all the foods that family members bring to the Thanksgiving table...just remember proportion and moderation!

Here's an example of a Thanksgiving dinner makeover that will save you calories and inches...

Instead of this....

8 oz champagne                                                              170

6 oz turkey, white & dark meat w/ skin                            345

1/4 cup gravy                                                                   30

1 cup standard stuffing                                                    500
2 candied sweet potatoes                                                 285

1 cup buttered, steamed green beans                                 70

2 rolls, buttered                                                               240

1/4 cup canned cranberry sauce                                        105

1 slice pecan pie, with whipped topping                             520

TOTAL CALORIES                                                          2265

Have this....

4 oz champagne                                                                85

6 oz turkey, white meat, no skin                                      230

1/4 cup low-fat gravy                                                        20

1 cup low-fat stuffing                                                       125
I cup acorn squash                                                           115

1 cup steamed green beans                                                35

2 rolls                                                                              170

1/4 cup low-sugar cranberry sauce                                      85

1 slice pumpkin pie                                                          175

TOTAL CALORIES                                                           1040

We know that very few people will have a 400-calorie meal on Thanksgiving but make wise choices this year.  Keep the holiday simple and stress-free for a change.  Remember what Thanksgiving is about and give thanks for the people and things that are important in your life.  Cherish time with family and friends, enjoy time away from work (if possible), and be healthy and happy!

From the PROMATx Health Club family...happy (early) Thanksgiving!!