-      You have likely heard that eating turkey meat makes us sleepy because it contains tryptophan. While tryptophan is an amino acid that the body uses to make serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain that helps regulate sleep, eating turkey will not really make you sleepy. In fact, all meats contain tryptophan in comparable amounts to turkey. So then why do you get sleepy after Thanksgiving dinner? The inevitable mix of meat with carbohydrates is what you can thank for your post-turkey drowsiness. Carbohydrates ingested during the meal - from the cranberry sauce, potatoes, stuffing, rolls, and pie - cause a release of insulin, thus activating muscular uptake of most amino acids, except for tryptophan. Free from competition with other amino acids, tryptophan is more efficiently circulated to the brain where it is converted to serotonin and ultimately melatonin, priming you for sleep. The consumption of alcohol and over "stuffing" ourselves with food further contributes to heavy eyelids. So if you want to feel energized, rather than exhausted, post your Thanksgiving meal, go ahead an include a serving of turkey...Plus veggies....and keep the portions of heavier carbs lighter.

-      Fun Fact, approximately 91% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.

-      There are regional differences to the "stuffing" (sometimes called "dressing") traditionally served with the turkey. Southerners generally make theirs from cornbread, while in other parts of the country white bread is the base. One or several of the following may be added: oysters, apples, chestnuts, raisins, celery and/or other vegetables, sausage or the turkey's giblets. Tradition and preference determine if the stuffing is actually stuffed in the turkey or cooked separately. Regardless of the differences, most traditionally stuffings are very high in fat and dense in terms of carbs. On average, one cup contains a whopping 330 calories, 18 grams of fat, 44 grams of carbohydrates and 6 grams of protein. Find some suggestions at the end of this post for ways to make your stuffing healthier this year!

-      Today, twenty percent of all cranberries eaten in the US are enjoyed on Thanksgiving Day. Native Americans - present at the very first Thanksgiving - did not eat cranberries, but instead used them to treat wounds and dye clothing. It is believed that cranberries made their appearance on the table in 1864 when Ulysses S. Grant ordered cranberries to be served to soldiers as part of their holiday meal. Now you are armed with some interesting history to bring up at dinner while everyone is enjoying the cranberry sauce!

-      More than 40 million green bean casseroles are served on Thanksgiving. Green bean casserole was created by Campbell's in the early 1950s and was intended to be an easy, "nutritious" dish that could be made with ingredients most people had in the pantry at the time. In 1955, the recipe was featured in an Associated Press article just before Thanksgiving. The article implied association between the casserole and the holiday and the tradition was formed. *We recommend breaking this tradition, and keeping your green beans/veggies lighter and healthier so as to balance out the rest of the heavier items on the table.

-      We think you know the answer to this one! Thanksgiving should be a day of reflecting upon what you are thankful for. Of course food is a prominent feature, but please remember the TRUE meaning behind this fall holiday. Try to do three things on Thanksgiving Day that remind you of what you are thankful for. Examples might be taking a walk (or running a 5k/Turkey Trot) to remind yourself to be thankful for your health and eating a healthy breakfast to remind yourself that it is the most important way to fuel your busy day. Go around the table each stating one thing you are thankful for (in addition to the bountiful meal)!