Don`t Become a Stuffed Bird for Thanksgiving

With Turkey Day a few days away, and so much talk about Americans being overweight, some people may be thinking of how to cut back on the calories. But a Little Rock nutritionist says just forget it. "Thanksgiving is not the time to do something brand new and deprive yourself," said Dawn Mulkern, nutritionist. She says holiday weight gain is not about what you eat, but how much of it. In fact, she says some holiday foods can be healthy. "And not high in calorie, turkey, baked sweet potatoes, or yams, until you put all the marshmallows on top of them," she said. But it`s not all about what you put in your grocery cart, but how much you eat once you`ve left the dinner table. "If possible let somebody else put some of the food away...that`s a definite temptation, you eat a little of this, a little of that, and before you know it you`ve eaten another meal," Mulkern said. Studies say Americans gain between 7 and 15 pounds over the holidays. So, if you were dieted before the big day, Mulkern says just try to get back on after the holiday, not during.