Thanksgiving Tips!

Happy Thanksgiving! I often have to remind clients that Thanksgiving is not all about the food! If you think of it that way you may not overeat so much! According to research from the Calorie Control Council, the average American may consume more than 4,500 calories and a whopping 229 grams of fat from snacking and eating a traditional holiday dinner with turkey and all the trimmings. And these figures don't even include breakfast or the late evening munching on leftovers!

Beverages

Apple cider, 1 cup: 115

Champagne Punch, 6 ounces: 124

Wine, 3.5 ounces: 84

Kahlua Sombrero, 4 ounces: 340

Appetizers and First Courses
Mixed nuts, 1 ounce: 170

Candied Pecans, 1 ounce: 139

Cheese ball, 1 ounce: 110

Crackers, 5: 80

Crudités selection, 8 ounces: 75

Sour Cream & Onion Dip, 2 tablespoons: 60

Chex Mix, 2/3 cup: 130

Stuffed Mushrooms, 6 small: 386

Deviled Eggs, one: 59

Cheese Puffs, one: 71

Shrimp with Cocktail Sauce, 3: 30

Fruit Cup, 1/2 cup: 70

Salads
Tossed salad with Oil and Vinegar, 10 ounces

Ambrosia Salad, 1 cup: 183

Molded Jell-O Salad, ½ cup: 103

Main Course
Dinner Roll, 1 small: 87

Butter, 1 pat: 36

Cheesy Corn Bread, 2" X 2": 96

Turkey, roasted white meat, 4 ounces: 180

Turkey, roasted dark meat, 4 ounces: 323

Turkey Gravy, 1/4 cup: 50

Stuffing, 1/2 cup: 190

Mashed Potatoes, 1 cup: 190

Candied Yams, 1/2 cup: 210

Sweet Potato Casserole, 3/4 cup: 624

Honey Glazed Carrots, 1/2 cup: 45

Green Beans Almondine, 1/2 cup: 220

Green Bean Casserole, 1/2 cup: 75

Peas and Pearl Onions, 1/2 cup: 40

Jellied Cranberry Sauce, 1/4 cup: 110

Cranberry Relish, 1/2 cup: 76

Dessert
Pumpkin Pie, 1/8 of a 9" pie : 316

Apple Pie, 1/8 of a 9" pie : 411

Pecan Pie, 1/8 of a 9" pie : 503

Vanilla Ice Cream, 1/2 cup: 145

Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling, 1" round: 306

Chocolate Cream Pie, 1 large slice: 535

Baked Apple, 1 apple: 182

Tea, brewed, 8 ounces: 2

Coffee, black: 10 ounces: 5

Coffee with Cream and Sugar, 10 ounces: 120

Coffee with Baileys Irish Cream and Sugar, 10 ounces: 186

Thanksgiving Tips for Success:

1. Have only the things you really want. Don’t feel like you have to put everything on your plate just because its there! If you really only enjoy the turkey and the potatoes, but you have Aunt Sally’s ambrosia every year just because its there…skip it.

2. Sort your plate. Divider plates are really perfect for this. Imagine you have 3 parts to your plate…1 part protein (turkey), one part green vegetable (green beans, brussel sprouts, asparagus) one part carbohydrate (stuffing, potatoes). This will ensure that you’re not having too much of one thing!

3. If you want dessert, have one. Don’t try to avoid the dessert and then snack on cookies. If you plan to have dessert, decide what it is you must have and enjoy that one thing! Plan ahead and you won’t overdue it.

4. Wear fitted clothing on Thanksgiving! This is my number one rule for the holidays! Don’t wear your stretchy jeans and a big sweater! Wear something that fits you just right to help keep control. This really works! You may even get some compliments on that figure you’ve been working on if people can see it!

5. Burn extra calories this week and next. You may need to have some calories on reserve for thanksgiving. Get a few hard core workouts this week and next to make up for the damage.

6. Don’t skip meals on Thanksgiving! You must, must, must eat a good breakfast and lunch before you’re thanksgiving dinner. It’s just another meal and it’s not just about the food!

7. Give Thanks! Remember what thanksgiving is all about! Be grateful for your health and that of your family. Spread thanks and bring your family back to the real reason for Thanksgiving.