Tips for the Buffet

I'm a Buffet Binger. Especially at this new Taiwanese Vegetarian Buffet we found, where the food is exotic so calories are hard to count. I feel like I have to stuff my face to get my money's worth! Here are some tips I've found:

1. Some say have a high-fiber snack before you go. This tip is hard for me to do myself, but it will make your experience more enjoyable. You'll eat slower, savoring the taste, instead of wondering, "Why do I feel so full all of a sudden? I still want to eat more!"

2. Have plenty of water.

3. Start with salad. Lots of salad. Even have a salad in between each course, or on the side of each course. On your salad, but lots of non-energy dense foods, like lettuce and sprouts. Egg whites and cottage cheese are also lower in fat and higher in protein. Of course, go easy on the dressing, or use the dip-your-fork in dressing trick.

4. Use the small salad plates each time you go up. Tell yourself you can go up as many times as you want, but you should only take a reasonable amount each time. Cover your plate, but don't mound it on.

5. Survey the whole buffet first to decide what you really want. This tip is data-proven, from "Mindless Eating: Why we eat more than we think." Skinny people do a survey before they eat.

6. Eat slower. You'll enjoy the food more if you take smaller bites and chew thoroughly. Drink between each bite - it slows you down, but also clears the palet, which makes the next bite better.

7. Use chopsticks. This will give you smaller bites. This is also data proven, according to "Mindless Eating"

8. Do not finish things that you don't like. Leave them there. It's a waste of calories. Give your plate to the waitress so you don't pick at it.

9. Get only one dessert at a time. To stop yourself from feeling deprived, tell youself you can have as many as you want, but only one at a time. That includes only one flavor of icecream at a time. If the desserts are big, split one or leave half of it at the buffet.

Good luck!

I love your cartoon! That's funny!