Really? A diet diary for the holiday?

Part of the path to becoming a Registered Dietitian is to go through a nine to 12 month intership where you actually get to put into practice some of the things you learn in school.  I used to have interns come and learn from me for a week at a time and I really enjoyed helping someone learn how people really behave (and misbehave) when you try to help them eat better.  My current position doesn't really permit the perceptorship side of things and I miss it, but one of the things I don't miss is finding busywork for them to do.  So the other day I got an e-mail from another dietitian who made her intern come up with a Thanksgiving meal calculator.  So, for your viewing pleasure and education:

Food	Serving Size		Calories	Amount Eaten		Calories
Roasted Turkey Leg (with skin)	4	oz	192		oz	0
Roasted Turkey Breast (without skin)	4	oz	153		oz	0
Ham, Cured, Boneless, Extra Lean & Regular, Roasted	3	oz	140		oz	0
Tofurky® Vegetarian Roast	1	serving (1/5 roast)	250		serving	0
Stovetop Stuffing, prepared	0.5	cup	140		cup	0
Mashed Potatoes (Made with Whole-Milk/Margarine)	1	cup	237		cup	0
2 in x 2 in Dinner Roll	1	oz (1 roll)	80		oz	0
Baked Sweet Potato (Medium)	5	oz	100		oz	0
Candied Yams	0.5	Cup	170		cup	0
Baked White Potato (Medium)	5	oz	130		oz	0
Green Bean Casserole	0.5	cup	110		cup	0
Corn Bread	4	oz	350		oz	0
Turkey Gravy	0.5	cup	60		cup	0
Cranberry Sauce	4	oz	110		oz	0
Pumpkin Pie	1	slice (1/8 pie)	290		slice	0
Pecan Pie	1	slice (1/8 pie)	500		slice	0
Apple Pie	1	slice (1/8 pie)	300		slice	0
Butter	1	Tablespoon	100		tablespoon	0
Margarine	1	Tablespoon	80		Tablespoon	0
Extra Calories			100		Portions	0
					Total Caloric Intake	0

This is interesting information for some I suppose, but all I could think of was "I practice what I preach, but even I am not psychotic enough to record my intake on a holiday."

Now, if you really don't want to take a break from your food diary on a holiday because you like routine, I won't stop you.  My suggestion, however, would be that since you probably want to find that fine line between enjoying what you eat without guilt and not feeling miserable at the end of the day (or next day), you could actually use this to do a little planning ahead.  Maybe there are some things you can do without, or never really liked to eat in the first place, and you can do a little planning ahead as far as what things you want to avoid.  Maybe you would like that little reminder not to take that second helping and go for a walk instead.  Otherwise, enjoy your holiday and be glad you are not a Dietetic Intern.