What’s Your Holiday Health IQ? (Quiz)
Back away from the eggnog and find out how much you know about staying healthy while chowing down on your holiday favorites:
1. How many calories are in an average Thanksgiving meal?
A. 1,500
B. 2,000
C. 3,000
2. TRUE OR FALSE: When it comes to turkey, you can save half the calories by sticking to white meat instead of dark.
1. How many calories are in an average Thanksgiving meal?
A. 1,500
B. 2,000
C. 3,000
2. TRUE OR FALSE: When it comes to turkey, you can save half the calories by sticking to white meat instead of dark.
Answer #1: C., 3,000 calories—and 229 grams of fat. Need tips for burning them off? Here are our top 7 tips.
Answer #2: TRUE. White meat has half the calories (and a quarter of the fat) of dark meat with skin—so stick to white meat to save on calories…or to justify a second helping. Or, make your Thanksgiving meal even healthier by adding vegan options.
3. TRUE OR FALSE: Eating with family and friends causes you to eat more.
4. Start with this appetizer before a big holiday meal to consume fewer calories overall:
A. Soup
B. Salad
C. Anything on a tiny cracker.
Answer #3: TRUE. A study by Pennsylvania State University found that when people ate among friends or family, they consumed about 50 percent more than if they were alone or among strangers. One theory? Drinking and watching others indulge lowers your resolve, while conversation prolongs the meal and distracts us from being aware of how much we’re eating.
Answer #4: A., Soup. A study conducted by Baylor College of Medicine in Houston found that people who consumed a bowl of hot soup before meals ate less, lost more weight, and kept it off longer. Try these cold-weather soups to keep you warm—and full.
5. What’s your healthiest drink option?
A. A 12-ounce beer
B. A 6-ounce glass of wine
C. A 2-ounce martini
6. How much weight does the average person gain between Thanksgiving and New Year’s?A. A 12-ounce beer
B. A 6-ounce glass of wine
C. A 2-ounce martini
A. 2 pounds
B. 4 pounds
C. 6 pounds
Answer #5: B., a 6-ounce glass of wine. It’ll only set you back 114 calories, compared to the 138 in a 12-ounce beer, and 149 in a martini. Stick to red wine for the health benefits: it’s a rich source of antioxidants and one glass a day may even lower your risk of a heart attack, help prevent blood clots and reduce blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits.
Skipping the spiked eggnog? Try this dairy-free, low-fat alternative.Answer #6: C., 6 pounds. The average person consumes an extra 600 calories a day between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, packing on about six extra pounds by the time the ball drops.
Diana Vilibert is a freelance lifestyle, dating, and sex writer living in New York City. You can also find her at www.diana-vilibert.com.
