The average Thanksgiving dinner can set you back a whopping 4,500 calories -- more than double the amount you need in an entire day, according to the Calorie Control Council.
Not sure how to enjoy the day without wrecking havoc on your waistline? Keep calories in check without skipping your favorite festive eats with these tips from the MD Anderson Cancer Center. Pick your dishes -- in the right portion size -- and then mix and match until they add up to a complete meal (MD Anderson suggests 500 calories for women and 700 calories for men).
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Salad
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1 cup serving = about the size of a baseball
Calories: 100-150, depending on the dressing
Calories: 100-150, depending on the dressing
Sweet Or Mashed Potatoes
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1/2 cup serving = about the size of a tennis ball cut in half
Calories: about 145
Calories: about 145
Vegetables
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1/2 cup serving = about the size of a rounded handful
Calories: varies by veggie
Calories: varies by veggie
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Stuffing
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1/2 cup serving = about the standard size of an ice cream scoop
Calories: about 180
Calories: about 180
Pie
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1/8 of a 9-inch pie = about the size of a standard light bulb
Calories: about 323 for pumpkin, 456 for pecan
Calories: about 323 for pumpkin, 456 for pecan
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Before You Go
