Small Bites has an excellent post on the effects the holidays have on consumption. According to the post, the average person consumes an additional 460-900 calories a day, every day, between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Just a quick calculation of 6 weeks multiplied by 500 additional calories a day makes the potential weight gain of 6lbs (3500 calories a pound).

The money quote for me:

The biggest culprits aren’t holiday family meals astronomically high in calories, but the barrage of food we encounter in our daily lives throughout that six week period.

It’s not the big meals but all the little temptations that kick off with excess Halloween treats to the Christmas cookies my daughters love to make. A snack here and a snack there and it’s easy to see where the 500 calories extra comes from.