Help! Chinese buffet!

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Replies

  • Cbean08
    Cbean08 Posts: 1,092 Member
    I focus more on portion. Buffets can be challenging because you are portioning out your food onto a big plate when you are already hungry and overloaded with choices. Make a plan and stick to it.

    My buffet plans would be 1 trip, no going back for seconds. To control portions- divide your plate into 3 sections. Each tray at the buffet has a serving spoon right? 2 scoops steamed vegetable, 1 scoop non fried meat, 1 scoop plain rice. Each scoop should be able to fit into the palm of your hand. You also get to choose 1 thing you are crazy about and have to have. So, 1 chicken ball or 1 egg roll or 1 rangoon or 1 wing etc. You still get your taste but you don't get to go overboard.

    Have a plan. You can do it! Remember, the buffet isn't going anywhere. You can always go back next week and try something different. No need to eat it all in one trip.
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,899 Member
    Cbean08 wrote: »
    I focus more on portion. Buffets can be challenging because you are portioning out your food onto a big plate when you are already hungry and overloaded with choices. Make a plan and stick to it.

    My buffet plans would be 1 trip, no going back for seconds. To control portions- divide your plate into 3 sections. Each tray at the buffet has a serving spoon right? 2 scoops steamed vegetable, 1 scoop non fried meat, 1 scoop plain rice. Each scoop should be able to fit into the palm of your hand. You also get to choose 1 thing you are crazy about and have to have. So, 1 chicken ball or 1 egg roll or 1 rangoon or 1 wing etc. You still get your taste but you don't get to go overboard.

    Have a plan. You can do it! Remember, the buffet isn't going anywhere. You can always go back next week and try something different. No need to eat it all in one trip.

    I'd skip the rice, get interesting looking vegetables, two meats if they had options I liked, 2 potstickers, 1 spring roll and egg drop soup.

    No way I'd be wasting (for me) calories on plain rice.

    Last time we ordered chinese at home I got double steamed chicken and vegetables, garlic sauce on the side so I could add as much or as little as I wanted, and did the above, two fried potstickers with dipping sauce and 1 spring roll, plus I shared a side of egg drop soup with my daughter. Other than the sodium, which I don't care about, the macros and calories were reasonable and just as importantly, it tasted good and satisfied my desire for takeout Chinese.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    As mentioned above, wings have a lot of skin, which is high in calories. Most buffets will have a steamed veggie dish, or one prepared with light sauce, plus chicken. Lean pork or beef can also be low calorie if it's not drenched in sauce. If there are boiled shrimp that's another high protein food. Or grilled tofu. Many bars also have fresh fruit.

    You're probably going to see a temporary weight gain due to the sodium in soy sauce, but don't sweat it, it will be gone before you know it. If you moderate your portion size, one meal isn't going to set you back even if you go over your calories for the day. It's the long term that counts!

  • beaglady
    beaglady Posts: 1,362 Member
    A lot of the buffets have marinated chicken thighs on skewers. They’re usually skinless and a sensible choice, even if they have a sweet sauce.
  • felixg1109
    felixg1109 Posts: 172 MFP Moderator
    I will go to a chinese buffet today. In general chinese buffets are the most easiest ones for me. Normally there are a lot of options without fried things. I don't take rice or fried things and just go for the "vegetables wokked with chicken". Seafood is great for that too. If the buffet has a mongolian station (you can choose raw ingredients and they will be cooked in front of your eyes) you can perfectly choose all the ingredients and tell the chef to spare a bit of oil. Doing this you can eat even more than most of the other guests by using fewer calories. Which makes it a good thing because you don't feel left out of the group ;-)
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    AmyC2288 wrote: »
    Personally I wouldn't be worried about the fat and sodium as much as just keeping the calories in check. Avoid things with breading (egg rolls and crab rangoons) and sweet sauces (General Tso, Sesame Chicken...). Look for steamed options and lots of veggies. I would go for chicken & broccoli, egg drop soup, shrimp & greens beans... They also typically have fresh fruit options so I would likely get some of that. Also, right before leaving maybe eat a small healthy snack and have a glass of water so you aren't SO hungry when you get there.

    Hope this helps!

    Egg rolls and crab rangoon aren't breaded. They are made with wrappers. They are high-calorie because they are deep-fried, not because they are "breaded."
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    I would have a small serving of a few of my favorite things, and have a piece of fruit for dessert (unless they have steamed buns with sweet bean paste, because I love those).
  • AmyC2288
    AmyC2288 Posts: 386 Member
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    AmyC2288 wrote: »
    Personally I wouldn't be worried about the fat and sodium as much as just keeping the calories in check. Avoid things with breading (egg rolls and crab rangoons) and sweet sauces (General Tso, Sesame Chicken...). Look for steamed options and lots of veggies. I would go for chicken & broccoli, egg drop soup, shrimp & greens beans... They also typically have fresh fruit options so I would likely get some of that. Also, right before leaving maybe eat a small healthy snack and have a glass of water so you aren't SO hungry when you get there.

    Hope this helps!

    Egg rolls and crab rangoon aren't breaded. They are made with wrappers. They are high-calorie because they are deep-fried, not because they are "breaded."

    LOL thanks for the clarification :lol:
  • Cbean08
    Cbean08 Posts: 1,092 Member
    nicsflyingcircus wrote: »
    Cbean08 wrote: »
    I focus more on portion. Buffets can be challenging because you are portioning out your food onto a big plate when you are already hungry and overloaded with choices. Make a plan and stick to it.

    My buffet plans would be 1 trip, no going back for seconds. To control portions- divide your plate into 3 sections. Each tray at the buffet has a serving spoon right? 2 scoops steamed vegetable, 1 scoop non fried meat, 1 scoop plain rice. Each scoop should be able to fit into the palm of your hand. You also get to choose 1 thing you are crazy about and have to have. So, 1 chicken ball or 1 egg roll or 1 rangoon or 1 wing etc. You still get your taste but you don't get to go overboard.

    Have a plan. You can do it! Remember, the buffet isn't going anywhere. You can always go back next week and try something different. No need to eat it all in one trip.

    I'd skip the rice, get interesting looking vegetables, two meats if they had options I liked, 2 potstickers, 1 spring roll and egg drop soup.

    No way I'd be wasting (for me) calories on plain rice.

    Last time we ordered chinese at home I got double steamed chicken and vegetables, garlic sauce on the side so I could add as much or as little as I wanted, and did the above, two fried potstickers with dipping sauce and 1 spring roll, plus I shared a side of egg drop soup with my daughter. Other than the sodium, which I don't care about, the macros and calories were reasonable and just as importantly, it tasted good and satisfied my desire for takeout Chinese.

    Personally, I'd skip the rice too just because I don't like it that much. But I didn't want OP to think they have to avoid carbs so I put it out there. I'd probably rather have a second meat option than rice. Or if for some reason there are roasted potatoes, then I'll go for those.
  • lynn_glenmont
    lynn_glenmont Posts: 10,097 Member
    AmyC2288 wrote: »
    lynn_glenmont wrote: »
    AmyC2288 wrote: »
    Personally I wouldn't be worried about the fat and sodium as much as just keeping the calories in check. Avoid things with breading (egg rolls and crab rangoons) and sweet sauces (General Tso, Sesame Chicken...). Look for steamed options and lots of veggies. I would go for chicken & broccoli, egg drop soup, shrimp & greens beans... They also typically have fresh fruit options so I would likely get some of that. Also, right before leaving maybe eat a small healthy snack and have a glass of water so you aren't SO hungry when you get there.

    Hope this helps!

    Egg rolls and crab rangoon aren't breaded. They are made with wrappers. They are high-calorie because they are deep-fried, not because they are "breaded."

    LOL thanks for the clarification :lol:

    Thanks for taking it in a good spirit. :smile:
  • Runaroundafieldx2
    Runaroundafieldx2 Posts: 233 Member
    Egg fu yung is high protein and not normally cooked with too much oil.
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,899 Member
    Cbean08 wrote: »
    nicsflyingcircus wrote: »
    Cbean08 wrote: »
    I focus more on portion. Buffets can be challenging because you are portioning out your food onto a big plate when you are already hungry and overloaded with choices. Make a plan and stick to it.

    My buffet plans would be 1 trip, no going back for seconds. To control portions- divide your plate into 3 sections. Each tray at the buffet has a serving spoon right? 2 scoops steamed vegetable, 1 scoop non fried meat, 1 scoop plain rice. Each scoop should be able to fit into the palm of your hand. You also get to choose 1 thing you are crazy about and have to have. So, 1 chicken ball or 1 egg roll or 1 rangoon or 1 wing etc. You still get your taste but you don't get to go overboard.

    Have a plan. You can do it! Remember, the buffet isn't going anywhere. You can always go back next week and try something different. No need to eat it all in one trip.

    I'd skip the rice, get interesting looking vegetables, two meats if they had options I liked, 2 potstickers, 1 spring roll and egg drop soup.

    No way I'd be wasting (for me) calories on plain rice.

    Last time we ordered chinese at home I got double steamed chicken and vegetables, garlic sauce on the side so I could add as much or as little as I wanted, and did the above, two fried potstickers with dipping sauce and 1 spring roll, plus I shared a side of egg drop soup with my daughter. Other than the sodium, which I don't care about, the macros and calories were reasonable and just as importantly, it tasted good and satisfied my desire for takeout Chinese.

    Personally, I'd skip the rice too just because I don't like it that much. But I didn't want OP to think they have to avoid carbs so I put it out there. I'd probably rather have a second meat option than rice. Or if for some reason there are roasted potatoes, then I'll go for those.

    Yeah, that's why I added "for me" . Don't get me wrong, carbs are not the debil, but there are so many things I would choose before it, especially before plain white rice. Now, if there was a super good looking fried rice, maybe pork based, I might take a half scoop, but likely would still choose a meat instead, lol.
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