Thursday

How many miles does it take to burn off Thanksgiving dinner?





OK, you asked for it. (At least, some did.) How many miles does a person actually have to run (or fitness walk) to undo all of the calories consumed in a traditional Thanksgiving feast?



Assuming the average person burns approximately 100 calories per mile (running or walking), here’s the basic run-down:

  • turkey meat (mixed dark and light, with skin): 8 ounces = 400 calories = 4 miles
  • gravy: 1/2  cup = 200 calories = 2 miles
  • stuffing (bread version): 1 cup = 350 calories = 3.5 miles
  • mashed potatoes: 1 cup = 250 calories = 2.5 miles
  • sweet potatoes (with marshmallows): 1/2 cup = 400 calories = 4 miles
  • green bean / onion ring casserole: 1/2 cup = 175 calories = 1.75 miles
  • cranberry sauce: 1/4 cup = 100 calories = 1 mile
  • cornbread: 1.5” square = 150 calories = 1.5 miles
  • dinner roll (medium) with one pat of butter: 200 calories = 2 miles
  • pumpkin pie: 1/8 of pie: 350 calories = 3.5 miles
  • pecan pie: 1/8 of pie = 550 calories = 5.5 miles
  • whipped cream (spray):  2 tablespoons = 50 calories = 0.5 miles

TOTAL:  35.75 miles

Bear in mind:
These calorie counts are estimates, and the totals will vary considerably with portion size and differing recipes.

So, basically, a marathon (or two half marathons) and a 10-mile run will do the trick. Or 11 1/2 5Ks.

On the other hand, you could just have a frozen TV dinner (the ultimate portion control, even if it means sacrificing some taste and that lovely house-wide Thanksgiving cooking aroma) and max out at 330 calories for the whole thing. If you did that, 3.3 miles would fit the bill. That’s sort of like running a 5K race and walking to your car.

Don’t mean to spoil the Turkey Day fun here. Maybe this information will simply help us to plan future workouts.

Gee, I might have to run twice today!

Happy Thanksgiving all around!

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