Thanksgiving has passed, and despite the fact that you were so frugal in filling up your dinner plate at the table that evening, you are feeling the pain of pants that are just to tight.
So what happened? Did that tiny big of holiday food contain extra holiday calories?
Chances are, it probably happened when you least expected it, as you were cooking the meal. We all do it -- as we put together the feast, we sample and taste our way through the day. You may think that little nibble here or there does not add up to much, but in the long run, it is like having two or sometimes more dinners.
Consider these little facts as you munch your way through the cooking process:
-- That spatula you just licked after frosting the cake? It cost you 75 calories.
-- Did you fry up some bacon to sprinkle on your green bean casserole? Well, sampling one slice will add 42 calories to your total.
-- Tasting the toasted bread crumbs for stuffing is about 15 calories.
-- As you whip the heavy cream for the pie topping, you will have to taste it to make sure it is sweet enough, right? Well, that will give you 26 more calories to your pile.
-- You have finally got around to mixing up that stuffing, so how about a few dried cranberries for a pop of flavor and color? Well, those leftover few in your hand that you pop in your mouth will cost you 25 calories.
-- Got the cheese plate ready to tide over the hungry crowd? Munching on it will put around 57 calories on your tally.
-- And the glass of wine that you are refilling at this moment just added 125 more.
-- Five tiny little pecans that got away -- that you might as well eat -- will be 49 calories.
-- The turkey is ready and being pulled out of the oven to stand for a moment. Might as well try a bit -- that will cost you 48 calories.
-- Oh, and now here come the green beans ... let's see if they are nice and crisp ... well, there is 9 more on the old waistband.
-- During cleanup, you discover that there are 6 little mini-marshmallows that did not make it onto the sweet potato casserole, so you might as well have those as well. That is 13 more calories.
-- You put the rolls in the basket, and one just isn't as pretty as the other so you butter it up and swallow down another 106 calories.
-- It is now time for dinner and you modestly fill your plate, thinking how well you are doing at watching those holiday calories. But in reality, before you ever picked up your fork at the table you have already taken in 596 calories!
So, as you begin to prepare the meal this year think back to the munching you did during Thanksgivings preparation and hold off until you join your family at the table.