Thanksgiving fun & festivities with friends and family can rack up many calories! The typical Thanksgiving dinner for most Americans will possibly include turkey & dressing, ham, and a host of side dishes consisting of mashed potatoes, gravy, dinner rolls, and veggies. Don’t forget all the delicious desserts like pumpkin pie, German Chocolate Cake, and Pecan Pie.
Some of us will start our festivities of calorie consumption by beginning to have some snacks while watching NFL football, and some will start earlier while watching the World Cup. Don’t forget that some will have appetizers while waiting on the main dish may include cheese and crackers, deviled eggs, and drinks.
The Calorie Control Council reported that the average American consumes about 3,150 – 4,500 calories and up to 159 + in fat grams from their Thanksgiving meal! Calories from a typical Thanksgiving meal have been compared to consuming the same number of calories from five to eight Big Mack’s (contains 550 calories & 30 grams of fat). Remember, it takes 3,500 calories to make a pound. Some people will gain a couple of pounds from their Thanksgiving festivities if they are not careful.
Tips for eating fewer calories at Thanksgiving
- Don’t starve yourself during the day. Try eating a small breakfast with protein to hold you over till dinner. Starving yourself before Thanksgiving dinner can cause you to eat more calories because your body feels super hungry.
- Be smart when snacking and drinking. During festivities with appetizers, try to stick to fresh veggies and salsa to help curb your appetite without a lot of calories.
- Be mindful of food by eating smaller portions. Fill your plate with half veggies and fruits.
- Feel free to pass on certain dishes. You don’t have to eat everything that is served. Use small plates for desserts and watch to see if you are getting too full.
How long does it take to burn off Thanksgiving calories?
Just know that experts warn that it is challenging to “out exercise” your diet, especially on holiday. According to experts, it takes 10 minutes of movement to burn 100 calories. So, let’s say you consumed 3,000 calories during your dinner. It would take five hours of physical activity to burn it off. This is not realistic for most people to burn that number of calories in one day, but there are things you could do to help burn calories before and after your dinner.
Do a Turkey Trot or a walking event earlier in the day. If you have a yard, rake the leaves if needed. Raking leaves burns a lot of calories. Consider playing a game of football, basketball, or soccer after dinner. Take a bike ride, play games with the kids, or go for a brisk walk for at least 30 minutes.
I overate. What do I do?
Eating food and celebrating holidays with friends and families is common across cultures. If you feel you had too much fun eating this past holiday, don’t stress yourself. The next day after the holiday, try to go to the gym, ride your bike, or go for a walk to help you feel better about yourself and move on. Stay on track with your regular workout routine and add about 10-20 extra minutes for at least one week. Be grateful for the time spent with family and friends during this Thanksgiving holiday and be prepared to use these same tools during the upcoming Christmas holiday dinner.
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