Royal Purple

Issue date: 11/18/09 Section: Lifestyle

Media Credit: Seth Anderson

Thanksgiving is synonymous with family, football and a delicious meal of various foods. It is also the holiday where many people put their diets on the backburner in favor of calorie-laden foods like mashed potatoes, stuffing, cream corn and pumpkin pie.

"There's only a couple day in the year you get to go all out," freshmen Jack Rivera said. "When family's in town, food's warm, why not go big or go home?"

This is the kind of hearty spirit most students have toward Thanksgiving. For some students, it is the first break they get from the monotonous offerings of Chartwells.

The idea of hot turkey, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and mashed potatoes is enough to get some students drooling.

"Turkey is definitely the best," freshman Adam Schnell said, "What's Thanksgiving without turkey?"

Most students can agree that there is no 'best' food when it comes to Thanksgiving and eating on-campus meals for two months straight lessens people's standards even more.

"I love all the food, but I'd have to say pumpkin pie is my favorite," freshman Amanda Stoeger said.

Consuming foods at such a high quantity once a year may seem like a nice incentive for those dedicated gym-goers, but how many calories are lurking in your coveted Thanksgiving dinner?

Those who attempt to go into a Thanksgiving meal with the objective of watching their portion sizes often throw their goal by the wayside in favor of one more slice of pie. Some students think it is unavoidable to overeat during the holidays.

"After my the main meal, it seems easy just to eat socially while spending time with family," senior Ryan Klopf said, "Thanksgiving is just all around good family fun."

Despite how easy it is to give in to the majority of overindulging mindsets, there are a few key ways that students who are adamant about sticking to their diet can avoid the onset of holiday pounds.

Paying attention to portions and saving room for the healthier dishes on the table, including vegetables and milk, will help students stay on track with their calorie restrictions.

Oftentimes, people skip eating breakfast on Thanksgiving to save room in their stomaches for the delicious food that is cooking in the oven. By eating breakfast there will not be as much room to overeat later in the day.

Sweet treats, like cakes, muffins and brownies, are loaded with empty calories. For those who don't care to watch portions but want to load up on as much traditional Thanksgiving food as possible, eat less sweets and fill up on food that will hold your hunger off longer. Sugary foods on Thanksgiving are a surefire way for energy levels to crash.

Most students who have ever attempted to fight their large Thanksgiving appetites have long since given in to the temptation.

"Why would I even attempt to watch my portions?" Rivera said. "More food equals more happiness for my stomach."

Thanksgiving is the one day during the year when most students are happy enough to see their friends and family that healthy lifestyles can gladly take a break for a day or two. Along with the healthy lifestyle goes a trip to the gym.

For a few slices of pumpkin pie and memories with the family, most college students have no problem with missing a sweat session or two.

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