How to eat at a buffet???????

Options
2

Replies

  • willhare
    willhare Posts: 44 Member
    Options
    I just track while I'm eating, that way I'm not allowing myself to turn a blind eye to the situation. Plus, then I don't have to go back and try to remember what I ate. It's all about willpower and commitment to your long-term goals. In my opinion, there's never been food at a buffet that actually tasted good enough to throw off my diet, though.

    Good luck!
  • i_am_losing_it
    i_am_losing_it Posts: 310 Member
    Options
    I love to eat at buffets because I can eat fish and have a wide variety of veggies. My hubby hates fish and does not like the smell of it cooked in the house. I find eating at a buffet is better than eating out at other places because of the variety, there are a lot of healthy options at most and a big plate of raw or steamed veggies with baked or steamed fish mmmmmmmm beats an itty bitty portion of something else in my book :)
  • KaleidoscopeEyes1056
    KaleidoscopeEyes1056 Posts: 2,996 Member
    Options
    Well, you approach the buffet, don't worry, it's more scared of you than you are of it.
    Then you proceed to pick up a plate and put some of the food on it. Once you think you have enough/majorly too much food, you take it back to your table and eat it.

    Never eat it at the bar, other people don't appreciate that. I've learned from experience.
  • rockerbabyy
    rockerbabyy Posts: 2,258 Member
    Options
    Well, you approach the buffet, don't worry, it's more scared of you than you are of it.
    Then you proceed to pick up a plate and put some of the food on it. Once you think you have enough/majorly too much food, you take it back to your table and eat it.

    Never eat it at the bar, other people don't appreciate that. I've learned from experience.
    <3<3<3<3
  • Jesea
    Jesea Posts: 374 Member
    Options
    I try to plan ahead for what I'm going to eat, then exercise to make sure I have enough calories. Even jogging in place for 20 min can burn about 200 or so!
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Options
    Get a plate of food that looks like what you'd eat at home. At home you'd have some veggies and one serving of meat, maybe a piece of bread. Not a plate loaded with 4 different meats, another plate for bread, another for dessert...

    Or, if this is an especially good buffet, you could have a big meal and eat everything in sight. Just don't make a habit of it.
  • LilacDreamer
    LilacDreamer Posts: 1,365 Member
    Options
    Hello I have been a member for over a year but just recently start to lose the weight. I don't about you but when going out with your friends or family I try at all costs to stay away from the buffet style ones. It seems no matter how hard I try I always overeat. If you would give suggestions or tips on how you eat a buffet I would really appreciate it. Thanks!!! :smile:

    Honestly i wouldn't recommend it. not because of the calories or any of that...but I ate at one 3 weeks ago and OH MY GOD I FELT SO SICK. I had been eating well for a little over a month at that point and i gave myself a cheat day. BIG MISTAKE the food took like 15 hours to digest and I felt like i was dying :[

    and i only had a plate of sauteed vegetables, a donut smaller than my hand (and i have tiny hands), an avocado roll, and a plate of salad.
  • jadedone
    jadedone Posts: 2,449 Member
    Options
    Have an appetizer of a full salad plate with mostly veggies and limit the dressings (and high calorie toppers) or have a veggie or broth based soup.

    Then have a main plate of half veggies, 1/4 protein and 1/4 startch. If you want more, go back for fruit, soup or salad. And if you have calories to spare, have a little dessert. And drink plenty of water. And have fun.
  • xMsAlly
    xMsAlly Posts: 164 Member
    Options
    I rarely go to buffets (once or twice a year max) so when I do go, all bets are off and I eat what I want, and however much I want of it. Maybe it was how I was brought up to get my money's worth at those places. But if I was going more often then I would probably make sure half my plate is filled with veggies at all times. And eat really slowly.
  • grassette
    grassette Posts: 976 Member
    Options
    Good suggestions above, but take the smallest plate you can find.

    Don't go for seconds.

    If you can google the restaurant, and check out the nutrition in each of the dishes. That way you know ahead of time which dish has 1500 calories per serving, and avoid that. Some of the processed salad bar items fit in that category, like carrot salad.

    Things to avoid: rice noodles, fried things, things covered in batter, processed things, salads with the dressing already on it, creamy things.

    Go for the raw unproccessed food, and stuff that is broiled.
  • Toddrific
    Toddrific Posts: 1,114 Member
    Options
    oooh and remember, you have to log each individual thing you eat at the buffet, if that
    isn't reason enough not to overeat, I dunno what is =)

    But as others said, soup, salad, find dishes where the majority is vegetables.
  • ArturoTheGrate1
    ArturoTheGrate1 Posts: 1
    Options
    A very large plate of salad..I mean a LARGE plate. I bring my own local dressing and sometimes go back for seconds.Then I dig-in but there's not much more I can eat. NO DESSERTS, ROLLS, BUTTER.
    You CAN do it !!!
  • rbn_held
    rbn_held Posts: 682 Member
    Options
    I can honestly say I never go to buffets, even before I started losing weight. They totally gross me out. To see people digging around in the same food you are eating. And they cough and sneeze and spit when they talk and then you figure that has to go somewhere (even with they have guards over the buffet table). And it kinda grosses me out to see people that go back for 3rds and 4ths and you think oh my how much food does one person need
  • Tennessee2019
    Tennessee2019 Posts: 676 Member
    Options
    Heading to Reno this weekend & staying at the El Dorado Casino. I will remember the advice given here - thanks.
  • toasterlisa
    toasterlisa Posts: 100 Member
    Options
    The best buffet advice I ever got (I think this was from the John Tesh Radio Show):

    Before getting a plate, walk the ENTIRE length of the buffet and look at all of the offerings. This will keep you from loading up a plate, eating it, then going back to the buffet and saying "Oh, I didn't see that the first time, and I have to have it."

    Of course, the rest remains the same. Start with a salad and small bowl of soup. That might even fill you up. Don't feel like you have to "eat all you can" just because it's an "all you can eat" situation.

    Then, go for some lean protein and plenty of veggies. Steer away from deep-fried and heavy sauces.

    And, just because you paid $10 (or $12, or $20) for the meal, doesn't mean you should try to eat your money's worth.

    Best wishes on your health and wellness journey!
  • arabiangirl_07
    arabiangirl_07 Posts: 12 Member
    Options
    Thanks so much these are some great tips that I definitely plan on using!!!!:happy:
  • nakabi
    nakabi Posts: 589 Member
    Options
    Just because you are at a buffet doesn't mean you have to eat off the buffet. Order off the menu and get something you know is healthy.
    If you must eat from the buffet, take a photo with your phone of each plate you eat. That way you can keep track of how much you ate and what was on it. You will be surprised just how much you eat :)
  • chicky26
    chicky26 Posts: 127 Member
    Options
    I just except that every now and then I can allow myself a treat and enjoy eating all that I want. I must admit though that I do make a concious effort to eat out less but I really enjoy it when I do and dont even think about the calories.
  • ninakir88
    ninakir88 Posts: 292 Member
    Options
    Last time I went to the China buffet I started out with some hot sour soup.
    Then I had one plate of mushrooms, veggies, seafood, and meat products (none fried). Just a small taste of everything.
    I skipped the dessert, but I did have some vanilla ice cream. :)
    It wasn't too horribly unhealthy and tastes yummy.
    Later I tried to walk it off by taking my dog on a long walk :D
  • EBFNP
    EBFNP Posts: 529 Member
    Options
    Honestly, the best option is to avoid it all together..lol. However, I guess the next best thing is to have one plate of whatever you want then eat a plate of fruits or salad. Buffets can be serious diet buster..If I go to one, I would probably have to decrease my intake prior, have a crazy workout, and then go eat. Usually once I do that I have less motivation to overeat later for dinner.

Categories