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I really do not have a huge problem with going to a buffet occasionally.
Well, saving for the fact that it is usually a pretty sad and gross experience.
Being around massive people, as they load-up plate after plate of food that is, for the most part, unhealthy and low-quality, seems to be a downer for me.
No. I cannot control portion control @ buffets so avoid.
I avoid buffets because I can't stand the idea that someone just sneezed on the bacon I'm about to put on my plate. Or that the kid who just sat down with HIS plate of bacon didn't just grab some with his snot-and-filth-covered fingers, and mom made him put some back, and that's the bacon I'm about to pick up with the tongs.
Buffets are generally a bad idea because of the mentality to "get your money's worth". That's a recipe (pardon the pun) for disaster. I occasionally have a cheat day, like yesterday when we went to the local BBQ place where I loaded up. That on top of several beers last night cost me a gain of 2 pounds, but as long as you get back on track, it's fine. Same with the occasional buffet, just make sure they're truly occasional.
I'm not really interested in eating at a buffet. I eat small simple meals, meat or seafood and fresh vegetables. I definitely wouldn't get my money's worth and I'm going to pass over 90% of the choices. If I decide to "cheat" it will be with something special, not buffet food.
Oh absolutely. Buffets are a great way to maintain your diet or drop weight. I used to contest (fitness) diet at Ryan's when it was still around. I was too tired to cook with my training schedule so we would go to Ryan's and I would load up on a huge Romain lettuce salad with their fresh grilled mushrooms, steamed broccoli (I like the hot and cold combo) and drizzle just a tad bit of low fat ranch on it.
Main dish was broiled fish/baked chicken with more broccoli, asparagus and green beans. The buffet made me feel like part of the human "eating race" instead of alone in my space with tupperware containers of chicken and asparagus. We ate out a lot at that time (and I won state/regional or did well at the national level shows). So it works.
Today, after covid, only the Chinese buffets remain and we go on occasion. I still make choices such as salad, the fresh green beans, broiled salmon and fish and some of the chicken dishes. For desert, I have coconut chicken and scrape off the coating, and just eat the chicken inside to get a "wiff" of sweetness.
I find buffets to be delightful places. When you attempt to eat healthy, choices are limited. But I love the large choices of salads and vegetables as well as different styles of chicken and fish. I get my money's worth by loading up on the greens. And then loading up some more.
Eating healthy can be monotonous - but buffets give you a wide variety of "good" choices and I like being around people. I don't see sad people at buffets (or don't really look to see them). They are just the typical every day person that you see everywhere else that happens to be there. Whatever food choices they make there are most likely the food choices they always make anywhere.
Resteraunts give you a menu item dish of one choice for a meal that you usually read through to know it is healthy. Buffets provide an endless array of healthy choices.
As someone who lost a lot of weight, me personally, I don't eat at buffets. They sort of encourage people to eat more to get their money's worth. And that doesn't fit with my current mindset.
I personally prefer to spread out my meals across the day. Instead, I'd go to a restaurant. Order a dish, and then take half of it home to finish 2 hours later.
(This isn't to say you can't eat at buffets and still lose weight. But you'd have to limit your portion sizes and maybe not go to buffets too often).
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