Buffet Health Blunders to Avoid
By Sara Butler
'Tis the season for going out with friends and family! One of your holiday traditions may include going out to buffets, but you have to beware of buffets for your health. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a buffet dinner, but if you want to keep your health in focus and maintain it in the face of the chocolate fountain, then you need to utilize some of these buffet strategies.
Don’t Show Up Starving
One sure way to overeat when you’re going out anywhere is to show up ready to eat everything you see. The unhealthy choices on the buffet will sing their siren song to you if you show up with your tummy rumbling. Pizza, meatballs, fried rice, and their ilk will sound much better to you on an empty stomach, so plan ahead by having a small snack within two to three hours of arrival.
Some snack ideas include:
- An apple
- A banana
- A handful of nuts
- A spoonful of peanut butter
It doesn’t have to be anything big, just something to take the edge off before you throw yourself into the ring.
The Empty Buffet
It might seem like a good thing because fewer people means there’s less competition for the food, but a buffet that isn’t busy might signal trouble for you and your health. Fewer customers mean the food isn’t as likely to be switched out or refilled, so enough time may have passed for bacteria that causes illness to set up shop. Slow business is a bad sign, so avoid a buffet like that.
Overwhelming Options
People like buffets because of the amount of options they give. How many places can you find mac and cheese right alongside kung pao chicken, after all? With so much to offer it can be hard to think straight and make good choices. If you’re trying to watch what you eat for your health, then you should avoid buffets for this reason, especially if portion control isn’t your strong suit.
Health First
Take a tour of the buffet and create a strategy for what you’re going to get. Next, start with the healthiest stuff on your menu and then move on to the unhealthier options. You’re likely to make better choices when the healthy decisions are made first.
It’s OK to indulge in a buffet once in a while, but you should keep healthy strategies in mind to help you have a healthier trip!
