SALT LAKE CITY – As you’re gathered around the dinner table this Thanksgiving, your eyes may gaze across the bountiful food choices. Rolls, turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes. But, exactly how many calories are in each of these treats, and how hard do you need to hit the gym after you wake up from your food coma?
Experts say that Americans will eat more than 1600 calories in a typical Thanksgiving Day meal.
An infographic created around this very topic shows shows each of the common dishes, and their corresponding calorie counts. For an added bonus, they’ve listed the average time it takes to work those calories off using fitness equipment.
The most prized possession of any family’s Thanksgiving dinner table is the turkey. If the serving size is 6 oz., it will take about 35 minutes on a treadmill to burn off the meat’s 340 calories. Add to the turkey a half of a cup of mashed potatoes, and at 150 calories, it will take about 25 minutes to burn that off on an elliptical.
Don’t forget the stuffing. Half of a cup’s worth will add 180 calories to your plate, and another 18 minutes to your cardio time on the treadmill. Pour a half of a cup of gravy over everything, and 25 minutes on the elliptical should burn off the added 150 calories.
According to the Utah Department of Health, the obesity rate of adults in Utah has more than doubled since 1989. Other studies show that 30% of adults across America are obese. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention suggests eating more vegetables and fruit, and these can easily be incorporated into a Thanksgiving meal.
