Thanksgiving's 'massive' calorie count: By the numbers
Just how many calories are there in that heaping helping of stuffing? Read on, if you dare
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It might be wise not to count your calories too closely on Thanksgiving. The average American consumes approximately three times the recommended daily dose of calories on the nation's favorite turkey-stuffed holiday. Just how does that break down? If you can stomach it, here's a look at our "massive" Thanksgiving eating, by the numbers:
1,500
The amount of calories an average woman needs each day
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2,000
The amount of calories an average man needs each day
3,000
The estimated amount of calories in a typical Thanksgiving meal, including turkey, side dishes, and dessert
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5,000 to 6,000
The estimated amount of calories people consume throughout Thanksgiving Day — roughly triple the recommended daily intake
590
The amount of calories in an average serving of a traditionally prepared Thanksgiving turkey
30
Grams of fat in an average serving of a traditionally prepared Thanksgiving turkey
400
The amount of calories in a softball-sized serving of stuffing
25
Grams of fat in a softball-sized serving of stuffing, or "the amount of fat you'd gobble up in a large, fast food serving of french fries," says Darlene Zimmerman at the Detroit Free Press
323
The amount of calories in a small, lightbulb-sized slice of pumpkin pie
456
The amount of calories in a small, lightbulb-sized slice of pecan pie
90
Calories in a typical three-ounce glass of red wine
3,500
The amount of calories needed for the body to create one extra pound of fat
500 to 700
Calories that healthy dieters should aim for in their Thanksgiving meal, as recommended by health experts at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
60
The number of minutes it takes for a 150-pound person to burn 500 calories by jogging at a moderate pace, according to Livestrong.com
Sources: Boston Globe, Detroit Free Press, Livestrong.com, LA Times, Las Vegas Review Journal, Naturally Savvy, Shape
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