This story was originally published in November 2022. For many people, it’s tradition to venture outside and exercise sometime during Thanksgiving day. Some do it before the big meal, and some do it after.
It makes sense. You’re either working up an appetite by burning calories, or you’re walking off the feast. Or maybe you’re just escaping your relatives.
Research studies from around the world have shown that walking after eating can help speed up digestion. I looked it up. How else do you think I learned the word “postprandial”? One study, conducted in 2008 in Germany , found that walking after a meal accelerated digestion significantly, while drinking alcohol or coffee did not.
(I’m sure one can find another excuse to enjoy one of those beverages, though.) No one likes that yucky, too-full feeling you get after stuffing yourself with — well — stuffing. Yet, every Thanksgiving, I throw caution to the wind.
I can’t help myself. I love everything about the meal. I pile it onto my plate, then I drown it in gravy.
One roll? Nah. It’s Thanksgiving. I’ll have two.
It doesn’t help that my extended family goes overboard with the cooking. Do we need to have sweet potato, squash and turnip on the table? No. But I’ll try all three.
I’ve forgotten which mashed, orange foodstuff I like best. I inevitably eat to the point of discomfort. Then I wonder how long it will take my body to make room for pumpkin pie.
During a large meal, my sister and I do this bit .