Guess How Many Calories Are in Your Turkey Dinner…
Around here, we take Thanksgiving seriously. The apps, the drinks, the turkey, side dishes and desserts (and don’t forget the leftovers). We’ve got everything taken care of. Now that you’ve planned your menu for the day’s offerings and have mentally prepared for your assault on the dessert table, it’s time for some Tday #realtalk.
According to ABC News, the Calorie Control Council calculates the average American consumes 3,000 calories from the Thanksgiving feast. Tack on another 1,500 on snacks and drinks, and you’re eating 4,500 calories for the day. (That can’t be right… right?) “The average person may consume enough fat at a holiday meal to equal three sticks of butter,” according to The Council. We love butter, but when you put it that way, it sounds like something off an SNL sketch. Several health reporters have attempted to disprove the Calorie Council’s 4,500-calorie guesstimate, and Cedric Bryant, chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, took matters into his own hands and came up with the following calculations.
Thanksgiving Feast Breakdown
- Turkey (dark meat with skin): 2 – 3 slices, Calories: 430
- Stuffing: 1 cup, Calories: 320
- Green Bean Casserole: 1 serving, Calories: 160
- Mashed Potatoes + Gravy: 1 cup + 1/4 cup of gravy, Calories 445 total
- Cranberry Sauce: 1 slice, Calories: 85
- Cornbread:1 piece, Calories: 175
- Sweet Potatoes With ‘Mallows: 1 heaping scoop, Calories: 610
- White Wine: 1 glass, Calories: 120
- Pecan Pie: 1 slice, Calories: 505
- Pumpkin Pie: 1 slice, Calories: 320
- Total Calories: 3,170 (Yikes!)
Going 1,000+ calories over a suggested daily intake isn’t the best thing for your system, so it’s definitely important to blast TS1989 (or whichever jamz you’re into) and shake it off before heading back to the buffet table. Remember, there’s always a healthy way to go about the holiday of indulgence. Just remember to balance out your feast with these tips.
1. Hydrate: Drink 17 ounces of water before the big meal and boost your metabolism (read: food burner) by at least 30 percent. (That’s pretty major.)
2. Take a Hike: Kickstart your metabolism and get energized with a brisk walk or hike first thing tomorrow morning and after the big meal. (The dogs need to go outside at some point, so go outside and enjoy the crisp autumn air, weather permitting.) If you aren’t breaking out the Xbox or Wii for a dance competition with the fam after your first meal of the day (because we all know there will be several), try a plank competition or see how many burpees, squats and mountain climbers you can do within 30-second intervals.
3. Eat Breakfast: Even though you’re heading into a eating marathon, you still need to eat breakfast. Did you know that Sriracha jumpstarts your metabolism and suppresses your hunger hormones, all of which help you to eat less for the remainder of the day? Squirt some hot sauce on your scrambled eggs for a protein-rich breakfast.
What are some ways you plan to eat mindfully tomorrow? Tell us in the comments.
(h/t ABC News)
