Ten 'Turkey Day' Facts The National Turkey Federation provides some interesting turkey and Thanksgiving facts.
Whether it's while seated around the table or during halftime of the football game, talk turkey this Thanksgiving and throughout the holiday season with interesting facts from the National Turkey Federation (NTF).
-- Approximately 46 million turkeys will be eaten at Thanksgiving. Another 22 million will be eaten at Christmas.
-- When purchasing a whole turkey, plan to buy at least one pound of uncooked turkey per person. You'll have enough for the feast and leftovers too!
-- The average weight of a turkey purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds.
-- Turkey is healthier than any other protein source. A three-ounce serving of cooked skinless turkey has fewer calories from fat, zero saturated fat and eight percent more protein than chicken.
-- Many people report drowsiness after eating Thanksgiving dinner. While turkey often receives the blame, studies suggest that carbohydrate-rich meals may cause sleepiness by increasing the number of tryptophans in the brain.
-- Since 1947, the National Turkey Federation has presented the President of the United States with a live turkey and two dressed turkeys in celebration of Thanksgiving.
-- The National Thanksgiving Turkey has been the Grand Marshall in the Thanksgiving Day Parade at both Disneyland Resort in California and Walt Disney World Resort in Florida for the past four years.
-- President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
-- Benjamin Franklin, who proposed the turkey as the official United States' bird, was dismayed when the bald eagle was chosen over the turkey.
-- Minnesota is the top turkey producing state, followed by North Carolina.
