Say “Bye-Bye” to Buffets

(c) mantonino Fotosearch_k1472614

For many people (too many people!), the allure of the all-you-can-eat buffet is the idea that you’re getting more than you pay for.

I, however, think of a buffet as an all-you-can-eat feeding trough and an invitation to diet disaster.

For one thing, buffets are built around ingredients and foods that are available cheaply. For another, the quantities are massive, and hidden sugars, sodium, fat, and refined carbohydrates are nearly everywhere.

If you have absolutely no choice, you’ll need every ounce of willpower to get past the dessert table and other temptations.

✅ Look for freshly carved meats, steamed vegetables, and simply prepared foods.

✅ Use smaller plates.

✅ Don’t take a tray, either. The added convenience has been shown to increase what we pile on, so avoid trays at all costs.

✅ Don’t grab a plate and hop in line; look around first. If you know ahead of time that roast chicken is halfway down the buffet, you’re less likely to pile the carbs on your plate before you even get there.

✅ Sit at a table as far away from the buffet as you can get. Your access isn’t as easy, and you don’t have to suffer the temptation of people walking past with their own overflowing plates.

✅ While you might be tempted to go without eating for the day before you hit the buffet, snacking on some fresh veggies before you head out will go a long way in managing the worst of your impulses. Just like eating healthily in other restaurants or at home, it’s all about being aware!

So, yes, in an all-you-can-eat buffet you ARE getting more than you pay for: More calories, more fat, more sodium, more refined carbs, more weight.

And buffet guilt is real, folks. That guilty feeling starts when you make your last trip up to the buffet and in full swing by the time you make it out to the parking lot. Walking out of a buffet is unlike walking out of a traditional restaurant: You can’t help but feel you’ve done something you’re going to regret.

Your best bet? Avoid buffets!