Common Holiday Foods and Their Calories

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

14 Oct 2009 09:31 AM

Yes, it is looming. It is the holiday season, a time when people who aren't even trying to lose weight tend to gain a pound in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Food is so closely tied with the holidays, so unless you are planning on moving to Antarctica for a month or so, you are going to have deal with it all.

There are a couple of ways to do this. You can ignore the calories and just indulge, facing a possible weight gain and loss of progress. Did you know that a typical Thanksgiving meal with all of the fixings can be a whopping 3,000 calories? And that with only having one roll and butter, and one serving of the side dishes. These are more calories than most people should be eating in a day, or about twice the amount of someone trying to lose weight--and this is for one meal!

You can stick to your current plan and ignore all of the goodies, which will probably make you feel deprived and grouchy. Plus, tasting as you are cooking does count.

You can take a middle of the road approach and indulge somewhat, building in extra exercise and activity to compensate for the extra calories. Obviously, this last approach is the one I am hoping to follow.

Here are some basic calorie counts for holiday goodies, thanks to Elizabeth Daeninck, MS, RD and HealthCastle.com. (http://www.healthcastle.com/holiday_foods_shocker.shtml)

Roasted Turkey - 6 oz mixed meat, untrimmed: 350 calories 1 cup stuffing: 340 calories 3/4 cup turkey gravy 375 calories 1 cup mashed potatoes: 240 calories 3/4 cup candied sweet potatoes: 365 calories 1 cup green bean casserole: 180 calories 1/2 cup cranberry sauce: 210 calories 1 roll with butter: 120 calories 2 glasses wine, punch or cider: 200-250 calories 1 slice pumpkin pie with whipped cream: 500 calories 1 slice pecan pie: 500 calories 1 cup Egg Nog: 400 calories 1 serving (3.5 oz) peanut brittle: 485 calories Lindt chocolate truffle ball: 80-90 calories 2 shots (3 fl oz) liqueur: 300 calories 2 small shortbread cookies (1.2 oz): 120 calories 2 small pieces fudge (1.2 oz): 140 calories

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Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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bodymojo (12) 15 Oct 2009 05:45 AM

I think it's really all about making the decision way beforehand to stay on your program. Then, the ending result isn't feeling grouchy or deprived, but rather accomplished and happy.

Great post, Sunny http://www.awesome-weightloss-motivation.com

Mary Ann Romans (26876) 16 Nov 2009 12:04 PM

Very true. I find that making the positive decision is a great way to self motivate.