We hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with family, relaxation, and of course—plenty of food. Now that we’re a few days past the big feast, you might be wondering just how many calories were on those plates we cleaned on Thursday.
The Thanksgiving Feast by the Numbers
Although everyone’s meal is a little different, most estimates show that the average American eats 3,500–4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day—about double or triple a normal day’s intake.
Here’s where a lot of those calories come from:
- Turkey: 300–500 calories
- Stuffing: 300–400
- Mashed potatoes with gravy: 250–400
- Sweet potato casserole: 300–500
- Rolls with butter: 150–250
- Green bean casserole: 150–250
- Pumpkin pie: 300–400 per slice
- Pecan pie: 500–700 per slice
And that’s not including appetizers, wine, leftovers, or “just a sliver” of extra pie.
How Much Exercise Would It Take to Burn It Off?
To put Thanksgiving in perspective, here's the approximate amount of exercise it would take to burn 4,000 calories:
- Casual walk: 12–14 hours
- Leisure biking: 10 hours
- Brisk walking or hiking: 6–7 hours
- Jogging: 4–5 hours
- Running at a fast pace: 3–3.5 hours
- High-intensity interval training: 2.5–3 hours
- Stair climbing machine: 3–4 hours
Of course, no one needs to work out for half a day to “undo” Thanksgiving. A few short walks, some light stretching, and getting back to your routine is more than enough to feel good again. Your body bounces back quickly—especially when you move a little each day.
A Little Post-Thanksgiving Humor
They say the average person gains 1–2 pounds over Thanksgiving weekend…
But relax—most of it is just leftover gravy, water retention, and questionable pie decisions.
(Ok... mostly the pie.)
Have a great afternoon,
Joy, Jen, Kim, Kathy, Gabi, Coloradas, Maxfield, Dr Shriner and Dr Ring
PS: Neck or back hurting? We will be in our office at 8am on Monday morning and we can get you in for an adjustment. Walk in or call us for an appointment. 480-488-1282