How to Eat Healthy at an All-You-Can-Eat Buffet Restaurant

Buffet restaurants have such a range of foods available that you usually have a few healthy alternatives to choose from. Here's how to eat at a buffet restaurant without jeopardizing your coronaries and your waistline.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Have a Plan.
   
   Decide prior to entering the restaurant how many plates of food you're going to consume and then stick with it. Eat slowly, stopping frequently to drink water to fill yourself up without adding additional calories. Remember, it takes around twenty minutes for your body to send the signal to your brain that you're full.

2. Start With the Salad Bar.
   
   The beauty of a buffet restaurant is that there's almost always a decent salad bar. This is where you should head first if you want to create a healthy meal. Fill you plate with salad greens and fresh, raw vegetables. These items are almost devoid of calories and can help to fill your up so you'll be less tempted by the unhealthy fried items in the next aisle. Eat at least one or two plates of salad before considering the other options. Watch your choice of salad dressing. Salad dressings at buffet restaurants are notoriously high in calories and fat. Bring your own or use a little balsamic vinegar.

3. Check Out the Soup Selections.
   
   Soup is high volume food that can fill you up without adding a great deal of calories. Studies have shown that people who eat a bowl of soup before a meal eat less with the main course. It's important to choose your soup wisely since many of the soups at buffet restaurants are high in fat. Go for the non cream based soups to avoid a calorie overload.

4. Avoid Foods With Heavy Sauces.
   
   Many buffet food preparations are heavy on the sauce. When you spoon your selection onto your plate, include as little sauce as possible. Also avoid getting food from the bottom of the pan where it's had the chance to soak up excessive amounts of oil and butter. Try placing your selection on a bed of rice which will help soak up some of the excessive sauce and fat.

5. Use a Smaller Plate.
   
   Instead of using one of the large entrée plates provided for you at buffet restaurants, opt for the smaller salad plate
   . Studies have shown that people eat less when food is presented on a smaller plate. This is a great way to practice portion control.