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How long is your "It won't be Thanksgiving without . . . " list? Along with turkey, gravy and cranberry sauce, my dream list would include mashed white potatoes and sweet potatoes, corn bread stuffing and oyster dressing, Brussels sprouts and green beans, creamed onions and cream-of-something soup, a substantial selection of crackers, cheeses and cold cuts, and apple and pumpkin pies with real whipped cream.

Add them all up, and it's caloric overload.

But since Thanksgiving comes just once a year, most people in good health should relax and enjoy the splurge.

Thanksgiving represents our family, cultural and often religious traditions; they help identify who you are.

But (you knew there was a "but'' coming), as soon as you push away from the table, Thanksgiving dinner is over and you need to go back to a healthy eating plan.

A typical Thanksgiving meal, including dessert, wine and a few munchies before the main event, can easily add up to more than 2,400 calories. That's before you go back for seconds.

We offer the calorie counts of some Thanksgiving favorites not to ruin the fun, but just because it's interesting. And heck, if you really never liked pecan pie anyway, now you have a good excuse to turn it down: At about 500 calories a slice, skipping the pie saves you lots of room for things you do like.

Sweet potato casserole ½ cup: 274 calories

Green bean casserole ½ cup: 82 calories 

Stuffing ½ cup: 178 calories

Pumpkin Pie (1/8 pie): 340 calories

Cranberry sauce ¼ cup: 110 calories 

Turkey breast 3 ounces no skin: 118 calories

Gravy ½ cup, fat skimmed off: 50 calories

Mashed white potatoes ½ cup: 118 calories 

Dinner roll 1-ounce 84 calories

Butter 1 tablespoon: 100 calories
 

EXTRAS

Butter 1 tablespoon: 100 calories

Wine 5-ounce glass: 120 calories 

Beer 12-ounce bottle: 150 calories

Ginger ale 12-ounce can: 124 calories

Mixed nuts 2 small handfuls: 335 calories

3 celery and 3 carrot sticks dipped in ranch dressing 100 calories

Pecan pie slice with whipped cream 555 calories

Potato chips 1 ounce: 150 calories 

Source for all calorie counts: www.calorieking.com

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