November 21, 2006
 

Charlotte, NC – Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends to gather, prepare a feast, and reflect on the things for which we are thankful. The Mecklenburg County Health Department knows that good nutritional habits tend to fly out the window during the holiday season.

That's why our Fit City for Fit Families program has come to the rescue with some important tips to help you have a healthier holiday season.

Did you know:

• The average person gains between 7-10 pounds from Thanksgiving through New Year's.
• A traditional Thanksgiving feast can range from 2,500 to 4000 calories. This is greater than the total number of calories the average adult should eat in an entire day!
• You'd have to walk 1 hour and 15 minutes to burn off the calories in just 1 slice of pumpkin pie.

Fit City for Fit Families, found at www.fitcitychallenge.org/families, helps families make positive changes in their daily lives to eat healthy and be physically active. Fit City for Fit Families wants your family to have the tools to make this Thanksgiving holiday a healthier experience.

Making a few simple changes in your recipes can cut calories and fat in your favorite Thanksgiving foods without sacrificing the taste:

• Have a feast without the fat: learn to modify traditional Thanksgiving recipes without anyone else knowing!
• Thanksgiving activities for the family: be active as a family before the big meal to burn calories and spend quality time together.
• Jump into fall: celebrate fall with a list of outdoor family activities.
• Food, fun and fitness: Keep the kids busy with indoor activities, games and crafts.
• Daily calorie calculator: find out how many calories are needed to keep energy levels high and to stay fit and be active.

Fit City for Fit Families is funded by the North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund and North Carolina Blue Cross and Blue Shield as part of the Fit Together Program, a statewide obesity prevention and reduction initiative.