Travel Blog

We go to a lot of buffets at casinos and are trying to control our weight. In fact we want to lose a little bit of weight. Is it a good idea to even go to a buffet.  The price is right, usually comp’d by the casino. Everyone gets to pick what they want to eat. It is so difficult not to over eat when you go to a buffet.

We really are thinking about just not going to one at all.  We needed to think about how much we eat. How to Control Eating at Buffets is a question many people worry about. We have come up with these rules for ourselves when we go to buffets or family get to gethers.

How to Control Eating at Buffets

You know when everyone brings something and wanted to pass them along to our readers in case you are going through the same issues:

• Scout your food and only pick foods you really want.
• Ask yourself which dishes you most want out of all the choices offered.
• Pick smaller plates if they were available than those who are larger.
• Make fewer trips to the buffet. Just go up once if you can so make it count on your small plate
• Sit farther away from the buffet to reduce the temptation
• Chew your food a little longer — about 15 chews per mouthful for those who were normal weight compared with 12 chews for those who were overweight.
• You will get that full feeling when you eat slowly and drink lots of fluids
• Order a glass of water instead of a soda drink
• Drink lot’s of water with your meal to fill your stomach to avoid eating more than you can deal with
• Make these rules become essentially habits over time.
• Avoid a buffet’s temptations in the first place.
• Eat fruit instead of other deserts

Use Small Plates

One of our favorite strategies is to use small plates. You can only get so much on a plate and by the time it comes to go for a second plate, you are feeling full and will not be able to eat as much as you might have other wise. We have found that for us this is one of the best strategies for controlling how much you eat at a buffet while still enjoying the food that is offered at a buffet. Often we will have soup first which is very filling and if you have soup based on a vegetable broth and not creamy soups you can further limit the calories that you intake as well. Our favorite is chicken or turkey noodle soup. There is a lot of salt in these soups, but at least they are filling and the calories are reduced for these types of soup.

Another approach that we have not mentioned is to drink a large glass of water to fill up your stomach before you are eating. Chances are you will eat less as a result which is the best strategy in the long run.

Some people may feel that since you paid for a meal one way or the other. Even if you are being provided the meal free, you should eat your money’s worth. They tend to eat as much as they can until they feel uncomfortable and cannot even eat another mouthful. Not only are they consuming thousands of calories which they will have to work off at some point, they will feel uncomfortable for many hours after the meal.

We happened to feel that it is better to enjoy your meal, not overeat and feel comfortable at the end of the meal. This is one of the best ways to control how much you eat and control your weight loss as well. for more information on how to control eating at buffets, click here.

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