Why do you do in these situations?

When I can't get nutritional info, I will either pick "healthier" options or get what I know I'll enjoy but only eat half.

Often the guys in the office want to go to this certain Indian buffet. In general I just only have one plate and make sure that each item is clearly identifiable on the plate (as opposed to just piling it on 4 inches deep). I mostly choose the foods that are easy to identify (curry chicken, a small amount of rice, etc) and count.

When I get back I type it into MFP and it is rarely enough to blow my day.

It helps to eat a bit slower so I still have food on my plate when everyone else is going back for seconds.

My two cents worth.

a small portion compared to a normal sized portion usually does the trick for me. even if the food ends up being high in calories, fat, ect. at least its not a heaping plate full!

I agree with most of what has been said....

I want to stress what has WORKED FOR ME. Eat what you want but keep an eagle on on the portion size. On June 1, 2014 I was 320lbs, highest ever. Yesterday I was 301. About a lb and a half a week average. I exercise regularly which is huge and watch portion size and types of foods. I am not going to try and go 1005 healthy on the food until I get to around 260lbs. I am already changing exercise habits, portion size, cutting out favorite things (oh Coca Cola how I miss you even though I still find you every 4-5 days!!) and I am trying to quit smoking.

Eating out will be something that you will always do; be it with friends, with work, a wedding reception, etc. You will not be living in a "perfect food" world. Learn to adapt while you are on the journey. Avoid the obviously bad stuff and just have a little bit of the rest. If you feel guilty about it then go out and get that heart rate up and burn off some extra calories.

sorry double post ._.

It's pretty rare for me to eat at a buffet type restaurant. However, if I do, I would be mindful to eat a little less than I have in the past. Example, I would get one plate of salad (or a soup starter--mmm, hot and sour soup), and one plate of main dish and be done. Better than the previous encounter (3-4 heaping plates).

I'm not even sure I'd bother figuring out how to log it, would be the rare occasion I utilize "Quick Calories" and just say 1,000 calories a plate (for the main dishes--modest portions of three things).

I struggle with the "all or nothing" mentality (I had a thread about this a few days ago). As part of this, I often beat myself up for slips, or obsess over things rather than just move on.
Yesterday I was out with my family and they decided to have lunch at a Chinese food buffet. What do you do with places like that? Very little healthy options. Do you just try to go for the lowest calorie options as possible? Do your best to estimate with your log? I'm just curious how other people handle this because in the past, I've really struggled (emotionally) when I don't know the nutritional info of what I'm eating.

I find a few things I want and eat small portions. This is when I guesstimate.

I have no problem with buffet style, I just follow MY rule, which is to log first. Kinda sucks when you're out with friends, but they're pretty much used to me.

I'm too rebellious to stick to an all or nothing approach. Moderation is the only thing that has kept me going.

If the eating out occasion is for a special reason, a treat, a party then I don't sweat it. I try to get a rough idea of how much I ate after the fact but I eat what I want. Usually I know these things are coming up so I prepare for a high calorie day in the days preceding it by eating less, and the day after as well. I pay more attention to weekly averages than to day by day goals. If it was a surprise I will stay on the low end of my calorie intake in the day or two afterwards.

Once a month I have been averaging a bbq style party or gathering where it is very difficult to keep track. I enjoy myself, don't log that day and try to stay low the rest of the week. So far these mystery days (as I like to call them) hasn't messed me up at all. But I have not had more than one a month and I am very good the rest of the week. But to be honest I have a really hard time not logging and often try to figure it out after the fact. If you are just starting I don't recommend not logging because it gives you an idea of how many calories you typically eat during these festivities. I always served myself small portions of everything and it still came to over 800 calories--That was eye opening! So now I know if I have an occasion like that I need to plan for the fact that at least 1/2 of my daily expenditure will be consumed during the course of the party and I adjust my day and those surrounding it accordingly to stay within my weekly average.

If it is a last minute meal out of convenience than I make smart choices based on the menu options available. I am starting to transition from weight-loss to maintenance to trying to these changes be workable for the foreseeable future is important. Making parties and special outings stressful events that are only half satisfying is not going to work for me in the long run. But what has been working is being more selective about what occasions are worth the calories. This has also been the way I have been adjusting my spending to get my finances under control and what I believe the key to moderation is.

I eyeball portions and use generic stuff in the database. My favorite is using the entries for Hy-Vee Chinese Express if I do have something like beef & broccoli or sweet & sour chicken, because their food is very similar to the stuff on a Chinese buffet.

As for filling my plate...I usually go at it pretty systematic. One large plate. Half of my plate filled with veggies in light or no sauce, probably a third full of beef, chicken or shrimp, a few pieces of fresh fruit (typically melon) from the salad area, and no rice or noodles. I'll choose a crab rangoon or 1-2 of those tiny pieces of coffee-flavored cake to go with it, and do not fill a second plate.

Obviously it's not gonna be exact or even all that close. I feel that it's not a big deal unless I developed a habit of going to Chinese restaurants and/or buffet every week or more. When it's once every couple of months, no major issues :-)