Buffet advice!

meganb1977

Fiance has a certificate for two free buffets at a casino which we plan on finally using tomorrow evening.  I've been working out and eating more lean protein and avoiding starches in favor of whole grains, starting to feel healthier, and saw the scale budge down a notch.  So I don't want to undo all the good I've been doing!  But I'm pretty sure they aren't going to have a lot of whole grains on the menu at the buffet.  If anyone has any suggestions besides trying to stick to the lean meats and veggies and minimizing any portions of rice or noodles, please share your ideas!  Thanks :-)

dumdumfroggie

Start with a BIG salad to fill yourself up, then only go through once.  Grab some meat and more veggies.  Avoid the desserts and all the delicious potato things they tend to have on buffets.

sparkles776

Agree with PP. Most casino buffets, have a pretty good salad bar. I always go back to that more than once. One of our casino buffets has a stirfry station where its pretty much just veggies and protein. Stay away from the desserts, pastas, and potatoes!

mandysmear

load up on as many veggies as you can!  i always do that at buffets.  i will give myself about 2-3 bites of pasta, pasta salad, etc.  and then the rest is greens.  steamed veggies, etc.  then a piece of meat.  but sometimes i don't even have any meat. 

depends on the day.

anna.oskar

Don't be afraid to try a few richer foods. If you don't eat out often, a few bites won't destroy your hard work.  Enjoy the food!

That being said, generally I avoid sauces on a buffet. Cheese sauces, cream sauces, and butter sauces can turn a perfectly healthy spear of broccoli into a mess of calories, salt,  and cholesterol.  I gravitate towards the fresh bar section and usually make myself a nice salad and top it with whatever lean protein I can find.  Usually fish or grilled chicken.  I make that my main meal and then just take 2-3 bite portions of anything else that strikes my fancy.

Elle1036

Also, eat slowly.  Give your body time to tell you it's full before you rush off for a second plate.  I know it's tempting to "get your money's worth" at a buffet (I always do that) but it's not worth the guilt you'll feel later.

J&K10910

Enjoy yourself.  That's my advice.

How often do you have the chance to eat for free at casino buffets?  They tend to be pretty good.  ONE meal at a buffet is NOT going to undo all your hard work.  In fact, you likely won't even gain a single pound (except in water weight that will go away in a couple days) from it, because it's pretty hard for most normal people to eat 3500 calories over their maintenance in one meal.

kateguess22

For me, I am not a big salad or soup person so it's hard for me to go with the advice to start with a salad or a soup and then be more full so I eat less. I pretty much go ahead and eat just as much as I would have afterward and I'm even more excited to eat bad things after suffering through something I didn't like.

I don't let myself go crazy at buffets. I start at one end and put very small portions of everything I want to try and I don't skip anything healthy that I like. For example, I won't pass by the watermelon and start putting chicken wings on my plate. I make myself take a slice of watermelon and then if there's room take 1 chicken wing.

Definitely eat slowly and sip water in between bites. And I have a rule that I can't have anything twice. So I won't deprive myself of that spring roll or brownie- but I only take one and if I want more I have to choose something else. And don't let yourself pass up the healthy options that you like. It's kind of like the soup/salad idea- once you get through your plate you are less hungry to go back for more. Also eating slowly and sipping water helps because when the other people you are with stop eating from fullness you can stop eating too. You will be full but not overly full! Give yourself permission to enjoy.