Thanksgiving is almost here, and along with the turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie are thousands of calories ready to weigh us down. While packing on the pounds is as much a Thanksgiving tradition as much as watching football and shopping, there are ways for you to have a healthy Thanksgiving without passing on turkey.
First off, here is the caloric breakdown of traditional Thanksgiving favorites:
4 ounces of turkey breast: 120 calories
7-ounce scoop of mashed potatoes: 237 calories
1 cup of green bean casserole: 239 calories
1 dinner roll: 87 calories
1 slice of cranberry sauce: 86 calories
1 cup of stuffing: 210 calories
1 slice of pumpkin pie: 316 calories
Yes, 1295 calories are a lot for one meal, but there are ways to quickly burn those extra calories.
Here are ways to burn calories, based on WebMD's fitness calculator for a 180-pound person:
1-hour bike ride for 12 miles: 492 calories
1-hour run for 6 miles: 820 calories
3-hour round of golf (carrying clubs): 1353 calories
1-hour walk on elliptical: 410 calories
Even four hours of shopping can burn 754 calories.
So if you plan to shop and you opt to ride your bike or walk to various shops, burning most of your Thanksgiving calories is possible.
The only question is, will you have enough energy to burn off the leftovers?
If you're looking for additional tips, they can be found on the American Heart Association's website .
Justin Boggs is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @jjboggs or on Facebook .
