The Thanksgiving meal is the highest calorie meal of the year for many Americans. We have family favorite dishes, new tasty recipes, and neighborhood feasts in which we indulge. Or, maybe overindulge is the better word. In fact, some health experts estimate that the Thanksgiving meal is about 4,500 calories. That’s enough calories for 2 days of food intake for some adults.
Taking a step back, what’s the real meaning of this holiday? Thanksgiving is a day to give thanks for the blessings of the previous year and to be grateful for the family and friends who enrich our lives. Do you really need to eat 4,500 calories in one meal to be grateful? If you are trying to maintain or achieve a healthy body weight, overindulging on Thanksgiving could be a misstep on your journey to health.
According to the latest research, keeping a healthy body weight could be one of the most effective steps to reduce your risk for cancer. That’s right up there with quitting smoking. Knowing that, would you do Thanksgiving a little differently this year?
Take The Turkey Day Challenge to makeover your Thanksgiving feast or at least one dish. Throughout November, we will share tips and recipes to tweak the traditional turkey day meal and favorite side dishes to have less calories and fat but still keep the flavor. We will share these tips and recipes on Facebook, Twitter, and the Pearls of Wisdom blog. You can still enjoy all the tastes and fun of Thanksgiving without all the unnecessary calories. You just have to make a few small changes to your menu. Are YOU up for the challenge?
If you have any tips or recipes for keeping Thanksgiving healthy, please share them with us on Facebook or by emailing guidance@pearlpoint.org. Thank you and good luck on The Turkey Day Challenge!
