Breaking down your Thanksgiving dinner: By the numbers

With many Americans eating more than triple their daily recommended calories on Turkey Day, the annual feast does some serious damage to waistlines

Thanksgiving dinner
(Image credit: Courtesy Shutterstock)

Put your stretchy pants on — Thanksgiving is finally here. It's estimated that the average American consumes over three times the daily number of recommended calories on the unofficial kick-off to the glutinous holiday season (depending on your weight, you can pack on as many as five pounds by the time New Year's Day rolls around). So, what's the best way to avoid overeating on Turkey Day and control your calorie count? Don't skip breakfast, says Kathleen M. Zelman at WebMD. Although many people avoid eating to "save room" for the big feast, eating something small in the morning means you won't be starving by the time the turkey is carved. It also helps to be aware of the foods that pack the most calories, and modify your portion size accordingly. If this is the year you're finally going to keep your winter waistline in check, take a look at how your dinner plate breaks down nutritionally:

Turkey (dark meat with skin)

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up