A reader writing in to The Times’s Thanksgiving Help Line asked this question: “What is the average number of calories a person consumes at Thanksgiving dinner?”

The commonly cited statistic is that the average American will consume more than 4,500 calories on Thanksgiving Day alone. That’s according to the Calorie Control Council, which represents the people who bring you diet foods. After thinking about how much 4,500 calories really is, I was skeptical of the claim. I decided to create a gluttonous virtual Thanksgiving feast of traditional foods and count the calories along the way (with the help of several online calorie counters).

To read the rest of my answer (which includes sweet potato casserole with marshmallows and buttery rolls), go to the Thanksgiving Help Line.