Top 10 Unhealthiest Holiday Foods

[Guest CaraMBA09]

The average Thanksgiving meal tallies up to about 3,000 calories and 229 g of fat. That's a whopping 1,000 to 1,400 more calories—and more than 3½ times the amount of fat—than what most people need in a day. And while one day of all-out gluttony may not inflate your waistline (or blood pressure, or cholesterol levels), since when did the holiday season last a mere 24 hours? Here, we've rounded up the worst holiday foods for your health and supplied slimmed-down substitutes that will leave you and your company feeling just as satisfied.

1. Mashed potatoes and gravy

One cup of creamy, homemade mashed potatoes prepared with whole milk and butter and served with 1/4 cup of gravy contains nearly 270 calories and more than 10 g of fat, half of which is the artery-clogging saturated variety (or nearly one-quarter of what's recommended daily). But don't toss these potassium-packed tubers just yet.

2. Cornbread stuffing

Helping yourself to a ½ cup serving of cornbread stuffing adds 180 calories, almost 10 g of fat, more than 450 mg of sodium, and practically no fiber. This is assuming you measure out your portion—and of course, it doesn't account for second helpings. Sometimes this cold-weather comfort food is made with sausage, tacking on an extra 130 calories, 11 g of fat, and 300 mg of sodium.

3. Candied sweet potatoes

It's no wonder this Thanksgiving staple references sweet treats in its name: The baked casserole of gooey goodness is loaded with confections like brown sugar and marshmallows, which meld with butter to make a syrup that tastes strikingly similar to candy. One serving of these potatoes can deliver 420 calories, 13 g of fat, and more saturated fat than the amount found in a glazed doughnut (and they're fried!).

4. White dinner roll with butter

Who doesn't love this tempting twosome? But when butter and white flour are ingredients in nearly every holiday dish (pie, stuffing, gravy, cookies, cake), you may want to think twice about bombarding the breadbasket. One small white roll (2 inches square and 2 inches high) with a pat of butter has 120 calories, close to 6 g of fat (half of which is saturated), no fiber, and minimal vitamins and minerals, making this duo a nutritional dud.

If the thought of eating extra empty calories doesn't deter you, chew on this: If not accounted for, indulging in two small rolls with butter twice a week would result in a 1/2 pound weight gain over the course of a month.

5. Turkey with skin

Practice this poultry policy: Trim the skin prior to digging in because that's where nearly half the bird's fat is located. If you're looking for the leanest cut possible, opt for skinless, light meat. A 3-ounce serving (about the size of a deck of cards) has 133 calories, less than 3 g of fat, and 60 mg of cholesterol, while an identical size portion of dark meat sans skin has 30 more calories, twice as much fat, and 15 more mg of cholesterol. But dark-meat devotees, take heed: Given the smaller size of wings, drumsticks, and thighs, the meat is more difficult to cut off the bone than the more substantial turkey breast, which may explain why these pieces are often eaten right off the bone, skin and all.

6. Pigs in a Blanket

It's easy to overindulge on this classic finger food. One seemingly harmless bite-size hotdog wrapped in buttery dough leads to another, and before you know it, you've eaten at least two servings. Just three bite-size pieces, or the equivalent of one serving, have 230 calories, 14 g of fat (nearly a third of which is the artery-clogging saturated type), over 800 mg of sodium, and 20 mg of cholesterol. That's more saturated fat and twice the amount of sodium than what's in a large order of McDonald's french fries.

7. Mini quiches

Among the first ingredients on the list for these teeny treats are high-fat foods like half-and-half, eggs and cheese. If you keep skimming you'll come across partially hydrogenated soybean oil and possibly butter in the crust. So it's no surprise that four bite-size quiches, the equivalent of one serving, have between 210 and 240 calories and 12 to 15 g of fat (half of which are saturated), and 300-plus grams of sodium.

8. Spinach dip with crackers

Topping five Ritz crackers with 2 tablespoons of this popular pre-made creamy dip—a mixture of sour cream, egg yolks, oil, and MSG—adds 210 calories, 17 g of fat, 4 g of saturated fat, 20 mg of cholesterol, and almost 400 mg of sodium. And this is usually just one of many appetizers. To keep portions under control, put one small spoonful on a plate rather than directly onto crackers, and munch on fresh veggies like celery, carrots, tomatoes and bell peppers. Their fiber and fluid content fills you up with far less calories, sodium and fat.

9. Eggnog

Ingredients like whole milk, cream, raw eggs, sugar and bourbon give this wintertime treat its characteristic heavy texture and calorie load. So when the weather outside is frightful, sipping a glass of sweet-spicy eggnog by the fire may not be that delightful. One cup of this thick cocktail—its consistency (and nutritional profile) can likened to a milkshake—has nearly 350 calories, 20 g of fat, and more than half a day's worth of saturated fat. Consider it a liquid cheeseburger.

10. Pie with ice cream

No one will stop you from taking one slice of each—I'll have pumpkin and pecan, please—but consider the price you're paying in pounds first: Pecan pie served à la mode adds an extra 675 calories, 30 g of fat, and almost 8 g of saturated fat, while a slice of pumpkin with the same serving of ice cream is 460 calories, 20 g of fat, and 7 g of saturated fat. Together that's 1,135 calories—or a third of a pound—and half a day's worth of fat.

[stormy]

I could never even think about eating that much food again. That just sounds so gross to even think of eating all that. UG! I am full just reading it.

[Guest CaraMBA09]

I could never even think about eating that much food again. That just sounds so gross to even think of eating all that. UG! I am full just reading it.

I know! me too! LOL

but is there nothing better than a bit of spiked eggnog?...umm...I think not

[JazzyJude]

GREAT post Cara Baby! I am soooo glad I only had a teaspoon or less of each items we had on our table. Just think, we all use to eat these foods in regular portions and MORE ~ YIKES!

[mlgpdx]

I know! me too! LOL

but is there nothing better than a bit of spiked eggnog?...umm...I think not

Ohhhhhhh Cara.. I love me some "holiday nog" brandy w/ eggnog and some other secret ingrediant... yummy!

[Guest CaraMBA09]

Ohhhhhhh Cara.. I love me some "holiday nog" brandy w/ eggnog and some other secret ingrediant... yummy!

LOL...yes darling but our A$$ doesn't like it