When it comes to Thanksgiving, there are two certainties in life. One, you will overstuff yourself to the point where you pass out; and two, football! The scene perpetuated by television and movies is a common one: while the women prepare the feast, the men are in the living room, whooping and hollering at the screen while the Detroit Lions or Dallas Cowboys play some good ol’ smash mouth football on Turkey Day. Outdated gender roles aside, the camaraderie that football encourages is a perfect setting for Thanksgiving, a time when families come together to celebrate what they’re thankful for and, of course, talk a little trash.

This tradition of football games being held on Thanksgiving is an old one, one that recalls the days when the Pilgrims and Indians would engage in games of sport during the first Thanksgiving festival. Beginning with two high school teams in San Francisco, the Thanksgiving Day tradition of watching football has been going strong for almost a century, and with luck it will stay the course, providing years of entertainment to bored husbands who aren’t allowed in the kitchen.

It is, however, rather difficult to watch football when you’re passed out in a food coma. The average American will consume approximately 3-5,000 calories on Thanksgiving, ranging from turkey to stuffing to pies, pies, pies. Ignore the myth that the tryptophan in turkey is causing your drowsiness – it’s most likely the carb-laden foods and the copious amounts of wine and other spirits that are often consumed throughout the day. To avoid this, it’s always best to pace yourself, as well as know just exactly what and how much you’re eating.

However you choose to celebrate Thanksgiving, here are some interesting facts about the holiday, its association with football, and the nutritional info of some of the holiday staples.

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