Thanksgiving and Nutrition

Okay, look, we all know that health insurance is less expensive for people who need it the least – those of us who are healthy and fit – but does that mean we need to avoid all the fun of holiday eating just to make sure our premiums don’t increase? Not at all. As with anything, moderation is key. If you are counting calories though, here are the typical calorie counts of some Thanksgiving favorites, courtesy of The Coverage Corner blog.

White and Dark Turkey Meat: 3.5 ounces of white meat has 1.66 grams of fat and about 161 calories, while same amount of dark meat has just slightly more fat and calories.

Bread Stuffing: One ounce of bread stuffing has 1 gram of fat, 109 calories, and 21.6 total grams of carbohydrates.

Cranberry Sauce (canned, sweetened): One serving (277 grams) of canned cranberry sauce has 0 grams of fat, 418 calories, and 108 total grams of carbohydrates.

Cranberry Sauce (homemade): One serving (209 grams) of homemade cranberry sauce has 9.8 grams of fat, 434 calories, and 90.1 grams of carbohydrates.

Mashed Potatoes: One cup of homemade mashed potatoes with whole milk and butter has 8.9 grams of fat, 237 calories, and 35.2 total carbohydrates.

Homemade Green Bean Casserole: One serving of homemade green bean casserole has 6 grams of fat, 95 calories, and 11 total grams of carbohydrates.

Pumpkin Pie: An average slice of pumpkin pie has 18.99 grams of fat, 372.6 calories, 45.61 total grams of carbohydrates.

Oh, and, speaking of the whole white meat vs. dark meat debate, let your taste buds be your guide. While white meat has slightly less fat and calories, dark meat is higher in iron, zinc, and vitamin B.