What to Skip at Thanksgiving

ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire) -- The holidays are just around the corner … and so are the fat and calories lurking in most Thanksgiving dishes. But a few food secrets will help you trim calories without trimming your plate. Here are some foods you might want to skip so you can indulge without adding pounds.

The average thanksgiving meal adds up to 3,000 calories and 229 grams of fat. That's as many as five-and-a-half Big Macs! Where does it all come from? One of the biggest culprits is pecan pie. A single slice with whipped cream packs about 800 calories. Close behind is homemade stuffing with gravy, which weighs in at 600 calories per serving.

Think you're cutting back by reaching for the green bean casserole? The average serving has about 190 calories. Reach for the steamed veggies instead.

Another calorie-saving tip for turkey day? Replace cranberry sauce with fresh cranberries to save 370 calories.