Television personality and AZfoothills.com columnist Nadine Toren is scouring the area, finding savvy Valley features, bringing readers “on the scene.” Every day she’ll introduce you to celebrities, athletes, and give you an inside look into local events and hot spots. She'll touch on topical issues, and keep AZ fans posted on all the big talkers around town.

Dare to discover the truth--the caloric truth when it comes to T-Day?  Well, we're dishing the unappetizing fat facts, but offering ways you can battle the bulge during Thanksgiving dinner. 

Here’s food for thought.  The average person eats almost 5,000 calories on Thanksgiving; that’s more than 2 days worth of calories a healthy person should gobble up.  To put things in perspective, The American Council on Exercise says a 160 lb. person would have to run for four hours, swim for five hours, or walk 30 miles to burn off a 3,000-calorie T-Day meal.  Translation: start training. 

But there’s good news…kind of. 

Truth be told, prepare to surrender seconds and that extra slice of pie.  You might even want to consider forfeiting the gravy and whipped cream.  (FYI, a cup of gravy is around 120 calories, and a half cup of whipped cream is about 175.)  However, as grim as this sounds, you can still enjoy turkey dinner in a smart-healthy style. 

First, stop the excuses.  Just because we’re entering the most wonderful time of the year, does not mean it has to be the most gluttonous time of the year.  Yes, it’s easy to say it’s a special occasion to gorge, but the fact is, all those helpings go right to your thighs.  Go for the light skinless meat—one cup is about 220 calories.  That, compared to a cup of dark skinned turkey, coming in at more than 300 calories. 

Next, as unappetizing as this may sound, get moving…a lot more than usual.  Since you’ll inevitably be eating a little more throughout the holidays, up the ante, exercising 5-6 days a week, 45-60 minutes each.  That will help make up for consuming stuffing—1/2 cup is, on average, nearly 200 calories.

And if you’re preparing for Black Friday, don’t take the short-cut.  Park away from the mall entrance and take the stairs...extra steps add up.  Plus, it’s a great way to work off mama’s mashed potatoes; one cup averages around 230 calories.  (One full baked potato averages 275 calories!)

Of course, ‘tis the season of celebrating with bubbly and vino, but you’ll definitely want to mix in a lot of H2O.  Yes, make water your BFF—it’s an excellent weight loss aid.  Plus, downing it will help you feel full.  Not a bad drink of choice, considering a tasty White Russian can exceed 300 calories.  (But you can always substitute cream for non-fat milk to make things less fatty.) 

Next, go for fat-burning foods—attempt kicking T-Day up a notch on the hot scale.  Yep, spicy, hot foods (like peppers) boost your body’s metabolism.  Opt for bites with benefits, and a slice of coconut cream pie doesn’t count!  (It has about 140 calories per slice.)  And while we’re at it, choose your dessert wisely.  One slice of apple pie typically has 300 calories, cherry pie has about 325, pumpkin pie has about 220, and a slice of pecan pie can exceed 450 calories.

I know, buzz-kill.

So here’s a tip: simply think before you eat.  Don’t stuff yourself with stuffing, or overdo it with dessert.  Stick to the leafy greens and lean meat, and say “no” to fillers like dinner rolls.  And when all else fails, indulge in a smaller serving.  A couple bites of a good thing can be quite satisfying. 

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