Jill's Journal: 75,054 steps
On Thursday, as we all belly up to our family tables to feast on the goodness of our Thanksgiving meals, you may want to keep one number – one very large number – in mind: 75,054.
That’s the number of steps that our friends at KURU Footwear stated in a press release that popped up in my email this week will take to walk-off all of those delightful calories. Unfortunately, that staggering number doesn’t take second helpings and leftover grazing into consideration.
And that’s even more steps, my friends.
KURU Footwear came up with calorie counts for the “Top 10 Thanksgiving Dishes” that are a staple of many family Thanksgiving meals.
It should come as no surprise that stuffing takes the cake for the highest number of calories at 355. Coming in a close second is cranberry walnut salad. That’ll cost you 323 calories. The sauce adds another 209 calories to the county
But for me, that’s a zero. I’ve never been a big fan of cranberry salad or cranberry sauce, and it wasn’t until I was well into my adulthood that my mom finally learned that about me. I’ll drop a spoonful or two onto my plate, but to be honest, I’d rather reserve those calories for a larger slice of pumpkin pie, which comes in at 323 calories, minus the whipped cream.
And what’s pumpkin pie without whipped cream?
It’s still good, but it’s a whole lot better with the topping.
Our family dinner has never included the sweet potato casserole (276 calories) or a cheese ball (246 calories). Again, that’s another bonus for me. Yep, you guessed it … more pie and whipped cream. And without a cheeseball, there’s not need for crackers, which according to KURU Footwear, tacks on another 177 calories. They also list potato chips as one of the “top 10 Thanksgiving dishes.” You won’t spy those among our spread either, and that puts me another 150 calories to the good.
Rounding out their list is mashed potatoes at 238 calories and the star of the show, roasted turkey at 190 calories.
A handful of menu items not included on the list are gravy, buttered corn, squash, buns and the always-present vegetable tray.
For starters, you simply cannot have an appropriate Thanksgiving without the gravy. So, to be fair, I’ll trade out one of the above-mentioned menu items for the always-tasty, lump-less gravy and of course, another piece of the pie with whipped cream.
Because let’s face it, what’s Thanksgiving without the pie. As for the buttered corn and squash, there’s usually space for a dab of both on my plate, and a couple of crunchy carrot and celery sticks to boot.
No matter what we fill our plates with, forget about the calories – at least for the day – and enjoy a good meal with good people around your Thanksgiving tables this year.
Happy Thanksgiving.
