In the month that houses the nation's premier evening of gluttony -- the average American consumes some 4,500 calories every Thanksgiving Day, not to mention seemingly endless leftovers -- it's no wonder November is a dreaded month for dieters nationwide. But despite its most famous celebration, the month also ironically serves as the healthy host to National Pepper Month, Vegan Month, National Pomegranate Month, and National Peanut Butter Lover's Month.

Excuses for culinary celebrations range from tame (National Sunday Day, Nov. 11), to obvious (National Turkey Day -- you guessed it, Thanksgiving Day), to practical (National Leftovers Day follows Turkey Day), to downright bizarre (Cook Something Bold and Pungent Day, Nov. 9). So get cooking -- if only for the holidays that you can stomach.

Notable national food holidays for the month of November, after the jump...

You know what I love most about America? The way that we have a holiday for everything. And even when we run out of holidays, we just make up more holidays and continue using them as excuses to glut. And when it's a food holiday, we are officially permissed to double-gorge! So here's a heads-up for my favorite August food holidays -- y'know, so you can get your shopping done early and beat the mad holiday rush.

• August 1 - Raspberry Cream Pie Day: This shortcut Chilled Raspberry Cream Pie recipe from Rachael Ray can be whipped up in a jif. It'll be just like one of those No-Bake commercials when your friends and family are fawning over you for spending the day slaving over the stove while you're secretly sniggering to yourself, "Heh heh, it was no bake, you fools!"
• August 2 - Ice Cream Sandwich Day: Sure, you could wade through the freezer case, or you could man up and make your own. Consider these decadent peanut-butter-'n'-honey-flavored "Bee-Nut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches" from Domestic Goddess.

Wow, talk about the ultimate holiday.

Of course, most people don't need a special holiday to celebrate their love of cheese pizza (if I could eat if for every single meal of my life...well, I wouldn't, that would be boring, but it's probably my favorite food). But this would be a good day to make a pie of your own. Hopefully today just happens to be your "cheat day" if you're on a diet.

Here's a bunch of cheese pizza recipes, from Jeff Varasano, MealsMatter, MyRecipes, RecipeZaar, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril, and Rachael Ray.

Of course, if you don't want to make your own and want to call Pizza Hut or Papa John's or maybe go the store and buy a frozen Mystic or Freschetta or even Ellio's, well, that's OK too! And don't forget the posts from our Pizza Day celebration.

Come on, Blueberry Popsicle Day? Really? I guess if you're going to have a whole set aside for a food, it's cool that it's a rather specific, different food. Makes it more special somehow.

I don't think I've ever had a blueberry popsicle. I've had grape, orange, cherry, raspberry, banana, watermelon, root beer, and many other flavors, but I don't think I've ever come across a blueberry flavored popsicle.

Here's a recipe for Blueberry and Vanilla Parfait Pops. Not a pure blueberry popsicle because it includes frozen yogurt, but it's close enough. Here's one for Blueberry-Peach Tequila Popsicles. And if you'd like to find out more about blueberries in general, check out the U.S. Blueberry Council.

For the most part, food and drink holidays come one per day, but today it's a regular smorgasbord.

Today is National Lollipop Day, National Hot Dog Day and National Ice Cream Soda Day! And that sounds like...well, a stomach ache. I would suggest not eating them all at once but maybe eating them at each meal. Maybe some lollipops for breakfast, a hot dog or two for lunch, and a couple of ice cream sodas for dinner.

Here's a history of the lollipop from Wikipedia, and here are some cool lollipops you can buy from Candy Favorites. Here are some hot dog recipes, including Spanish Hot Dogs and Rice, Joan Lunden's Paprikash, and Hot Dog Ramen. Then make yourself an ice cream soda or two.

Sometimes I wonder who designates holidays for a particular day. For example, today it's National Pecan Pie Day. Why on July 12? Is this a particularly important day in pecan history? Is the person who came up with pecan pie born on this date? I would think it would be better to have it in the fall or winter, when (I think) people are more pie-oriented. Even the more general National Pie Day is in January.

So anyway, let's make a pecan pie today. Here's a classic recipe from Karo syrup, and here's a Pecan Torte with Chocolate Glaze from Marcia Adams. Or how about a Sweet Potato Pecan Pie, from AllRecipes?

As we've mentioned before, there's a "national day" for everything. Even for chocolate eclairs!

My mom loved these things though I haven't had one in years. Here are several recipes for various chocolate eclair-oriented desserts from cooks.com, including Chocolate Eclairs, Chocolate Eclair Cake, and Cream Puffs.

Of course, if you're trying to eat well, this isn't your week. With this and National Ice Cream Soda Day in the same week, it's all much too tempting. Though we don't need a holiday to eat food like this. You can always start that diet next week, right?