Don't Let Thanksgiving Leftovers Weigh You Down

Maintaining a healthy weight is all about portion sizes and planning ahead to balance your calories, says Framingham mom, registered dietitian and nutrition consultant Heidi McIndoo.

We all know the traditional Thanksgiving dinner is laden with calorie-dense foods. In fact, the average American packs in 3,000 calories at this one meal, far exceeding the recommended calorie intake for the entire day! According to the American Council on Exercise, a 160-pound person would have to run at a moderate pace for four hours, swim for five hours or walk 30 miles to burn off a 3,000-calorie Thanksgiving Day meal. And that’s just one meal! Holiday weight gain doesn’t result from overeating at one or two meals, but rather from feasting on leftovers for days or even weeks. I believe there is a way to continue to enjoy our festive favorites for days and weeks after the celebration. And we can do so while maintaining our healthy …

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'10 Fat Turkeys' And More Thanksgiving Reads

Celebrate next week's holiday by reading some of these Thanksgiving-themed books.

  Although it's not as famous as Halloween or Christmas, the Thanksgiving holiday does have it's fair share of literature dedicated to it. Whether you're young and still reading picture books, or an adult, we have a little something for everyone in our Patch Reads book list. So grab your turkey and enjoy some books as side dishes!   Younger readers: 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving—In a switch on the classic Clement Moore poem, some boys and girls have an eventful Thanksgiving eve. If You Lived In Colonial Times—This book outlines what the lives were like for the Pilgrims and Colonists from 1565 to 1776. The First Thanksgiving—Geared toward beginner readers, this book tells the story of the first Thanksgiving with lots of illustrations…

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Where do Westwood Residents go to Buy Holiday Gifts?

With Black Friday approaching, people are starting to think about what to purchase this year for holiday gifts for their loved ones.

Black Friday is a week a week from this Friday, and as the biggest shipping day of the year, it got us at Westwood Patch thinking: where do people in Westwood go to buy their gifts? There are some small businesses in town, but for many things on your loved ones want list you may have to go over the Westwood border and into other towns. But where do you go to look around? Where do you go to make your purchases. There are the Wrentham Village Premium Outlets, which are only about a 30 minute drive from Westwood. A good thing about the outlets in Wrentham is they have stores for everyone. Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-…

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Where to Visit Santa Claus This December

Check Patch's interactive map for locations and times of Santa's appearances this month.

It may be early December, but Christmas is right around the corner.  And for those children out there who are eager to tell Santa Claus what they'd like under the tree on Christmas Morning this year, we're here to help point you in the right direction of where the big man in red will be this month.  Look through our interactive map to find out where Santa will be visiting for photo opportunities for families in the region in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  And be sure to bookmark the map or check back weekly to see updates on any newly-added appearances, including locations and venue details. 

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Patch Facts

5 Things You Need to Know Today: Nov. 30

Your daily roundup of news and information in Westwood.

Today's Forecast: Showers are likely before 10 a.m. today in Westwood, according to the National Weather service. Skies will otherwise be partly sunny with a high around 57 degrees. 1. Historical Holiday Party: The Westwood Historical Society will host its Annual Holiday Party from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Dedham Country and Polo Club. Music will be provided by the Bo Winiker Trio. A silent auction featuring a wide array of interesting items will be held. Tickets can be purchased in advance by emailing ntdonahue@comcast.net. Tickets can also be purchased at the door. 2. Story Time: The Westwood Public Library's Story Time program will be held today at 11 a.m. at Temple Beth David. 3. Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony: This special holiday …

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