Science & Outdoors
Healthy eating habits for Thanksgiving day
The Pointer
bhaig870@uwsp.edu
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays in the United States. Every year, this holiday gives students a few days off to watch football or parades, go shopping, and, of course, eat way too much Thanksgiving dinner.
However, as awareness for a healthy diet and eating habits grows, is Thanksgiving, nutritionally speaking, an excuse for over-consumption, or an opportunity to feast on foods that are actually good for us?
“It depends on how the foods are prepared,” said Annie Wetter, associate professor of nutrition and dietetics.
As far as which Thanksgiving foods are bad and what are good is a different situation.
“One food in a meal or in a diet doesn’t cause the whole diet to be healthful or unhealthful,” said Wetter.
Traditionally, the wide variety of foods reflects the background of the people who came together to share these meals. There is a nutritional benefit to eating a wide variety of foods; you will gain a variety of nutrients. Plus, you will probably not over-eat one specific food, although many do.
“If worrying about getting fat ruins the enjoyment of the day, then don’t worry about it,” says Wetter.
