How many calories are in that Thanksgiving meal? (And what does it take to burn it off?)
Jay CannonUSA TODAY
It's probably the last question you want to be thinking about on Thanksgiving Day: How many calories are you actually eating on Turkey Day?
Thanksgiving feasts aren't like a bag of Doritos or a bottle of root beer; nutrition facts aren't readily available and portion sizes tend to differ quite a bit. But while Thanksgiving feasts vary, there's generally one theme that holds true: People eat a lot on the holiday.
Accounting for appetizers and desserts, the average American consumes a little over 3,000 calories and 150 grams of fat in a Thanksgiving meal, according to the Calorie Control Council. And that's without going back for seconds!
However you slice it, many Americans are taking in significantly more calories than they will actually burn off.
"A 160 pound person would have to run at a moderate pace for four hours, swim for five hours or walk 30 miles to burn off a 3,000-calorie Thanksgiving Day meal," said Dr. Cedric Bryant, chief exercise physiologist at the American Council on Exercise.
As daunting as those physical tasks might sound, there are several things you can do to combat the monstrous-size meals that don't involve, say, hitting the pool for five hours.
To compensate for the high-fat foods often served on Thanksgiving, the council recommends you plan ahead and target light, low-fat foods for the days following.
Thinking of starving yourself the morning of Thanksgiving? Think again, the council says. It's best to look for low-fat options for breakfast and lunch that day. Egg whites for breakfast followed by a salad for lunch, for instance, would make for a great start.
Expecting a crowd? A group walk after dinner can be great to connect with family and friends while getting some steps in. Or, if you're feeling up to it, a "Turkey Bowl" pick-up football game can burn off some calories (and ignite sibling rivalries).
Turkey Trots have made Thanksgiving Day the most popular day for a race in the U.S. That's according to Running USA, which reported that more than 1 million runners registered to run or walk in races of a variety of distances across the nation in 2018.
Finally, if your diet gets off track around the food-friendly holiday, don't panic! Having a thoughtful diet plan for the days before and after Thanksgiving gives you enough time to account for the day's festivities, the council notes.