Before you pick up your spoon fork, you might want to know this: The average American will consume more than 4,500 calories and 229 grams of fat on Thanksgiving Day alone. These figures are based on the research of the Calorie Control Council. Add that to the fact that other studies show that the average person gains an average of 10 pounds during the holiday season, and well, you get the picture now.
America's Thanksgiving Day
America's Thanksgiving Day is a public holiday celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. It originated as a harvest festival. Thanksgiving Day in America has been celebrated nationally on and off since the year 1789, after a proclamation by George Washington. It has been also celebrated as a federal holiday every year since 1863, when, during the American Civil War.
As described by timeanddate, Thanksgiving Day is traditionally a day for families and friends to get together for a special meal. The meal often includes a turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, pumpkin pie and vegetables. Thanksgiving Day is a time for many people to give thanks for what they have. Government offices, businesses, schools and other organizations are closed.
How Many Calories You Will Consume On Thanksgiving Day?
Thanksgiving Day it is one of the busiest periods for travel in the U.S. So rather than be a statistic, know the facts and arm yourself with information about what you're eating and how much of your favorite food will set you over the edge when you hop on the scale. According to the Calorie Control Council, the average American eats about 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving day.
On their website, the Calorie Control Council breaks down some of the most popular dishes by calorie.
Roasted Turkey: 4 slices = 190 calories
Breaded Stuffing: 1 cup = 355 calories
Mashed Potatoes: 1 cup = 238 calories
Green Bean Casserole: 1 cup = 143 calories
Cranberry Sauce: 1/2 cup = 209 calories
Hunter Lewis, editor of Cooking Light magazine, concedes that Thanksgiving can throw your diet for a loop, but he argued that the spirit of Thanksgiving matters more than the food. "Be engaged at the table and be grateful and thankful," he told ABC News. "Enjoy yourself and don't feel guilty." Lewis, however, warned against indulging after the holiday. "Don't let one day of feasting turn into five days," he said.
