Even if it's tough to prove the Calorie Control Council's
claim that average Americans gorge themselves to the tune of 4,500
calories on Thanksgiving Day, no one can deny that it's a holiday on
which most people stuff themselves like a turkey. Not that you're likely
to choose Thanksgiving as a day to start your diet, but we thought you
would appreciate knowing some ways to lighten things up.
Keri Glassman,
M.S., R.D., a contributor to Women's Health Magazine, lists the 7 worst
caloric offenders you're likely to encounter this Thanksgiving, and
offers some advice on how to minimize the damage.
Frankly Awful
Pigs in a blanket are small and cute but at 66 calories each, these
little piggies can really add up. They're also loaded with
artery-clogging saturated fat and cancer-causing nitrates. A better
appetizer is half a cup of steamed or boiled shrimp, a plenty satisfying
nosh that contains a mere 100 calories with virtually no fat. Just go
easy on the cocktail sauce, which can ratchet up the calorie count if
you get carried away.
Not So Skinny Dipping
Chips and dip are a dangerous liaison because you eat them mindlessly.
Before you know it, you've snacked away on hundreds of calories and too
many grams of unhealthy hydrogenated fats. If you must hear a crunch
from your appetizer, park yourself near the crudité plate and munch on
carrots and red peppers instead.
Dastardly Drink
One slim glass of eggnog contains as many calories as 3 glasses of wine:
343. What's more, there are nearly 12 grams of fat and 22 grams of
sugar. Enjoy a single glass of wine instead. Besides saving you from a
caloric and nutritional nightmare, you'll also reap the antioxidant
benefits from the vino's phytochemicals.
Over Stuffing
A simple bread stuffing is already loaded with 178 calories per cup.
But when you toss in the sausage -- as many traditional stuffing recipes
do -- you make matters worse by adding an additional hundred calories
and a ton of fat. So hold the extras and save your calories for
something your taste buds are more likely to notice.
Orange Menace
When you take sweet potatoes, a food rich in vitamins, minerals and
fiber, drench them in butter and sugar and bake them into oblivion, you
kill their nutritional value and turn them into a dieter's nightmare.
You're better off sticking with mashed potatoes, which, at 118 calories
per serving, have half the calories and less fat. Or, zap a sweet potato
in the microwave then dab on a smidge of butter, sprinkle on a pinch of
cinnamon and top with a marshmallow.
The Dark Side
Three ounces of dark meat turkey with skin deliver nearly 200 calories
and a double whammy of saturated fat. Not only is the skin a major
source of fat, but dark meat in general has the highest fat content in
the entire bird. If you can't forego the dark, at least peel the skin
off. Better yet, stick with light meat, which is significantly lower in
fat and has just 114 calories for the same-sized serving.
Pienormous
Here's one time where tradition wins out. Pumpkin pie is a better choice
than either pecan or apple. One slice of pecan pie contains a whopping
780 calories; apple pie, about 415. Pumpkin pie will only set you back
about 350 calories, and that's if you splurge on a dollop of whipped
cream to top it off.
Copyright 2012 by ABC News
