Good afternoon, it's Wednesday, Nov. 25, and we're celebrating Thanksgiving a little differently. This is a special Thanksgiving Eve email to arm you with fascinating facts for the Turkey Day table, even if you aren't able to celebrate with the whole family this year. Have feedback? Let us know at hello@join1440.com.

First time reading? Sign up here.

(CONVERSATION) STARTERS

How Much Do We Really Eat?

Many Americans show love through food and on Thanksgiving there is plenty of love to go around. In an average year, almost 40 million turkeys are eaten during the holiday season; that's as many turkeys as the entire population of Canada. But along with the excessive eating comes excessive food waste. Experts estimate hundreds of millions of pounds of turkey and side dishes will be trashed after the holiday. When food waste goes to landfills, it decays and produces greenhouse gases; Thanksgiving alone will generate greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 800,000 car trips from New York to San Francisco. Estimate how much food you’ll actually need with this calculator.

Not all food will be wasted—Americans will consume between 2,500 and 4,500 calories at the Thanksgiving table. That's the equivalent of eating one to two entire pizzas in a single sitting. However, despite all the extra calories, you won’t likely gain much weight—a pound of human fat is roughly energy-equivalent to 3,500 calories.

A Masked Thanksgiving Economy

The traditional big turkey could become another victim of the coronavirus this year. There will likely be smaller gatherings, per health guidance, and therefore smaller feasts. Butterball, one of the country’s largest turkey producers, projects a sizable increase in small celebrations and customers looking for smaller birds, breasts only, or different protein sources altogether (WashPo, $$). See how farmers are scrambling to meet the new needs of consumers here.

Thanksgiving will also look a little different this year for the travel industry. Traditionally, it's one of the busiest travel days of the year in the US. In normal years, around 54 millions Americans would travel, stimulating a lot of economic activity in the industry. However, with outbreaks surging across the country, AAA Travel now anticipates at least a 10% drop to fewer than 50 million travelers this year.

Don't Blame the Bird

Turkey often gets the blame for our post-Thanksgiving nap. But, is the age-old rumor true that it is the tryptophan in the turkey that makes us sleepy? Tryptophan, an amino acid, cannot be made by the human body and must be supplied through food. One of its most important roles in the body is helping to synthesize serotonin, a hormone that makes us feel calm, in the brain. However, although turkey contains tryptophan, it also has many other amino acids and tryptophan isn’t used to make serotonin unless the body needs it. Dessert and carbohydrates, which increase brain serotonin and blood sugar levels, are more likely making you sleepy after dinner. Check out the science behind tryptophan here.

Eat too much and need something to watch during your food-induced coma? Check out the NFL lineup here.

Enjoy reading? Pass 1440 (and the stuffing) on to your three closest friends.

READY FOR A FEAST?

Thanksgiving is famous for indulgence. Some don their very own "Thanksgiving pants," while others set personal records in pie slices consumed.

It can be a stressful day to worry about food consumption and weight. But Noom is here to help. Through behavior change techniques, Noom's Goal Specialists help you develop healthy long-term habits toward weight loss, without implementing rigid diets. So enjoy your Thanksgiving, and start your Noom trial today.

Please support our sponsors!

SIDES

Apart but Together: Tips for a Cozier Zoom Thanksgiving

AP News | Katie Workman. A virtual Thanksgiving dinner may be on the menu for many families this year. Here is how to make your Zoom guests feel like they are together. (Read)

Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?

Britannica | John Cunningham. There is no indication that turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving meal—so how did it become the symbol of the holiday? Read how the bird became the traditional centerpiece. (Read)

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Ingredient Substitutions That Will Save Your Sanity

MyRecipes | Stacey Ballis. Be prepared for any last minute changes with these no-fail swaps for any ingredient your significant other may have forgotten at the store. (Read)

THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

In partnership with Noom

Ah, Nov. 1 - Dec. 31: the holiday season. A time of cold weather, repetitive music, and large meals. Good thing we use Noom; their health and wellness program uses psychology to help us manage stress and avoid bad habits over the holidays.

Start your trial today.

Please support our sponsors!

DESSERT

Tyson, the heaviest turkey in the world, was an 86-pound bird and has held the record since 1989. See other Thanksgiving world records here.

Dolly Parton and Broadway casts are in the lineup for the 94th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will be a TV-only event (NBC, 9am, all time zones).

President Trump continued the tradition of pardoning a turkey for Thanksgiving; look back at the history of the tradition.

Arby’s is redefining the Thanksgiving Day nap with this pillow.

The one Thanksgiving dish entertainers and chefs in the food industry cannot live without.

Then and now: how we celebrated Thanksgiving during the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic.

The Thanksgiving raccoon that became a White House pet.

"Thanksgiving, man. Not a good day to be my pants."

- Kevin James

Enjoy reading? Forward this email to a friend.

Why 1440? The printing press was invented in the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. Guess what else? There are 1,440 minutes in a day and every one is precious. That’s why we scour hundreds of sources every day to provide a concise, comprehensive, and objective view of what's happening in the world. Reader feedback is a gift—shoot us a note at hello@join1440.com.

Interested in advertising to smart readers like you? Apply here!