All you can eat. That's a strong statement, especially given our current economic climate. I can eat a whole lot food and when I am at a buffet, I usually do. After stuffing myself at an Indian buffet yesterday, I came up with these three tips for myself. A buffet is time to remind ourselves that just because we CAN do something, doesn't mean we should. "All you can eat" does not automatically translate to "all you should eat." 

These are some of the tips that help me get through a buffet meal without undoing all of my progress for the week: 

1) Look before you leap. Your first pass down the buffet line should be without a plate. Otherwise, you follow this pattern on the line: You take a little bit of the first few items because you don't know what's coming next and you might not like it. Then you settle for some of the middle stuff because you're halfway though and are starting to worry that you won't find anything you like better. Then you find your favorites at the end and stock up them because - well, they're your favorites. Take the time to check it all out before getting your plate and you can end up making healthier choices. 

2) Treat the buffet like a menu. When you go to a restaurant, you survey the menu and choose what to order. If you're extra hungry or dining with friends, you might choose an appetizer and an entrée. You should do the same thing at a buffet. Treat the buffet line as if it's a menu with photos. Look at all the food, then decide which one (or two) items you want to "order." 

3) Waste not / waist not. Remember that whatever you put on your plate is going one of two places. It's either going on your waist, or it's going to waste. My point? Portion control. Take a little, eat a little. Then after twenty minutes if you still want more, take a little more. 

Nobody wants to waste food or money, so overeating at a buffet seems like an economical choice. But keep in mind the real cost of overdoing it. One pair of bigger pants would cost me a lot more than that buffet lunch!